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IN AND OUT 



REBEL PRISONS 



LIEUT. A. COOPER, 



I2th N. Y. CAVALRY. 



I L L U S T R AT E D. 



OSWEGO, N. Y. : 

R. .1. OLIPHANT, JOB PRIMER, BOOKBINDER AND STATIQNEH 

1888. 




Copyrighted 1888, 

BY A. COOPER 

AM Rights Reserved. 



To CAPTAIN ROBERT B. HOCK, 

THE GALLANT AND LOYAL COMRADE IN THE FIELD, 

THE FAITHFUL AND CONSTANT FRIEND DURING THE DARK 
DATS OF MY PRISON LIFE, 

Mt §m\x^ (Tompattiou of m\j (^$capc 

AND THREE HUNDRED MILE TRAMP THROUGH THE CONFEDERACY, 

WHO, WHEN I BECAME TOO FEEBLE TO GO FARTHER, SO 

GENEROUSLY TOOK OUT HIS PURSE AND GAVE ME THE LARGEST HALF OF ITS CONTENTS, 

THIS BOOK IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED 
BY THE AUTHOR. 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



Many books have been written upon prison life in the 
South, l)ut should every survivor of" Andersonville, Macon, 
Savannah, Charleston, Florence, Salisl)ury, Danville, 
Lil)by and Belle Island write their personal experiences 
in those rebel slaughter houses, it would still require the 
testiuK^ny of the sixty-five thousand whose bones are 
covered with Southern soil to complete the tale. 

Being an officer, I suffered but little in comparison 
with what was endured by the rank and file, our numbers 
being less, our quarters were more endurable and our 
facilities for cleanliness much greater. Besides, we were 
more apt to have money and valuables, which would, in 
some degree, provide f()r our most urgent needs. 

In giving my own personal experiences, I shall en- 
deavor to write of the prison ])ens in which were confined 
only officers, just as I found them — "Nothing extenuate, 
nor set down aught in malice." 

Being blessed with the happy faculty of looking upon 
the bright side of life, and possessing a hopeful disposition, 
unaccustomed to give way to despondency, I also write 
upon the bright side of my subject. The reader who ex- 



vi author's preface. 

pects to find in this l)0()k a volume of sickening details 
of the horrors of starvation and sntlering endured by those 
whose misfortune it was to be contined in Andersonville, 
under that inhuman monster Wirz — the mention of whose 
name causes a shudder — will be disappointed. Having 
kei)t a complete diary of events during my ten months' im- 
l)ris()iiment, I am able to give a reliable account of what 
came under my personal observation. I have often heard 
it said, even here in the North, that our men who were 
prisoners, were cared for as well as the limited means of 
the Confederacy would admit ; but the falsity of this is 
seen when you remember that Andersonville is situated 
in a densely wooded country, and that much of the sulfer- 
\i\!J endured was for the want of fuel with which to cook 
their scanty rations, and for the want of shelter, which 
they would have cheerfully constructed had the oppor- 
tunity l)een afforded them. The evidence all goes to 
show tliat instead of trying to save the lives or alleviate 
the sutferings of those whom the fortunes of war liad 
liirown into their hands, they practiced a systematic course 
of starvation and cruelty, that in this nineteenth century, 
seems scarcely believable. In this scheme, the arch 
traitor, Jeff. Davis, was most lieartily assisted by the in- 
famous AViiuler and iiis cowardly assistants, Wirz, Dick 
Turner, 'J'abl) and others, whose timid hearts unfitted them 
for service in the tiehl, l)ut just ([ualified them for acts of 
atrocity and cruelty, such as were inflicted upon the loyal 
sons ot'the North who were in their ])ower. Prison life, 



AUTHOR 8 PREFACE. Vll 

at best, to one who has been educated beneath the flag 
of freedom, is a trial hard to be endured ; but wlien ac- 
companied with indignities, insults and tortures, such as 
were inflicted upon the occupants of those prison hells of 
the Soutli, it becomes simply unbearable. 

A. COOPER. 




CHAPTER I. 

Description of Plymouth, N. C. 

Plymouth, in 1863-4, was a small town, situate on 
the Roanoke river, al)out six miles from \^4lel•e the waters 
of that stream enters the Albermarle Sound. 

The river at Plymouth is nearly a quarter ot" a mile 
wide, and with a sufficient depth of water to Hoat the 
largest drau^jht gunl)oats. The shore next the town was 
supplied \\ith a wharf for landing steamers that navigate 
the river; l)ut the gunlioats, of which there were quite a 
numher stationed there, were usually anchored in the 
middle of the stream. The town was enclosed with eartli- 
wt)rks, with the exception of al)out two hundred yards on 
the left next the river which was rather low and marshy, 
and covered with ([uite a thick growth of alders and other 
hushes. On the extreme right, on the bank of the river, 
was Battery Worth; a small earthwork, just large enough 
to work a two hundred pound Parrot gun, with which it 
was supplied, and accommodate twenty or thirty men to 
handle and support it. This was surrounded with a deep 
ditch ; hut on the side next the town it was protected 
only with a low breastwork with a wooden slat door, and 



10 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

a person could jump across the ditch and step over into 
the redoubt. 

Extending south from this small earthwork ran a 
line of breastworks to the south-west corner of the town, 
when it turned at right angles, making a continuous line 
of works nearly two miles in length, completely surround- 
ing the place, with the exception of the short space next 
tlie river on our extreme left, as before stated. 

In the south center stood Fort Wilhams, a strong 
work; and some distance from the line of works on the 
right center was Fort Wessels, a small redoul)t. 

On the left of Fort Williams on the works facing east, 
were Comphor and Coneby redoulits, one each side of 
what was called the Columbia road. On each side of 
Fort Williams, which faced south, were sally ports, on 
what w^as called the Washington road and the middle road. 

In our tront, to the south, was an open field for a 
thousand or twelve hundred yards, the farther part of 
which was partially covered with the brush and stumps 
of the newly cleared field, and beyond this was woods. 
Al)()ut a mile up the river, on what w^as called War Neck, 
as a protection to our extreme right, was Fort Grray, a 
work of considerable strength, garrisoned by the 96th 
New York. 

Such is a l)rief description of Plymouth as it ap- 
peared in April, 1864. 

Brig. Gen. W. II. Wessels was in command of the 
post, and Lieut. Conmiander Flusser was in command 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 11 

of the fleet of gun-boats, which consisted of the Miama, 
a large wooden double-ender, the Southfield, an ohl New 
York ferryboat under command of Capt. French, the 
Whitehead, Capt. Barrett, the Bombshell, and a small 
supply boat called the Dolly, with one or two other boats 
whose names I do not now rememlier. 

These were all wooden boats, but were supplied 
with a good armament of heavy metal, and their com- 
mander, W. H. Flusser, was as gallant an officer as ever 
trod the quarter deck, and thoroughly determined to 
sink the rebel ram Albemarle, which had been l)uilt near 
Richmond, and was daily expected to come down the 
river, and attempt the destruction of our fleet, or sink 
every boat under his command. Being very intimately 
acquainted with Lieut. Commander Flusser, and knowing 
his plans, having been instrumental with the detachment 
of cavalry stationed there, in getting much valuable in- 
formation in regard to the progress of the building and 
intentions of this ram, I can speak by card of his prepara- 
tions for its destruction, when it should make its appear- 
ance. 

Gen. Wessel's brigade consisted of two companies 
of the 12tli N. Y. Cavalry, A and F, 85 men; two com- 
panies, H and G, of the 2d Massachusetts H. A., gar- 
risoning the fort and redoubts; the IGth Connecticut, the 
101st and 103d Pennsylvania, the 85th New York In- 
fantry, and the 24th New York Independent Battery, 
Capt. Cady. There was also a company of North Carolina 



12 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



colored troops, Capt. Eastmond, and two companies of 
loyal North Carolinians, making in all about two thousand 
troops. 




IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 13 



CHAPTER II. 

THE BATTLE OF PLYMOUTH— THE CAVALRY PICKETS DRIVEN IN— HOKE APPEARS 
IN OUR FRONT WITH EIGHT THOUSAND MEN— A MAGNIFICENT ARTILLERY 
DUEL— FOUR DAYS HARD FIGHTING— SINKING OF THE SOUTHFIELD AND 
DEFEAT OF THE FLEET BY THE RAM ALBEMARLE. 

On Sunday morning, April 17th, 1864, the consol- 
idated morning report showed eighteen hundred and 
fifty men for duty. The day was warm and l)right, and 
the men were scattered al)out the town with no thought 
of approaching danger. The cavalry had scouted the 
day before, a distance of twelve or fifteen miles, and 
found no signs of the enemy, but about 4 p. m., the cav- 
alry pickets on the Washington road were driven in, 
and the Corporal, named Geo. Wilcox, came tearing 
through the company quarters of the 85th New York 
down to cavalry headquarters, with the nose l)ag still on 
his h(n-se, which he had not had time to exchange for 
his bridle, swinging his hat and shouting: "The Rebs 
are coming! the Rebs are coming!" 

By the absence of Capt. Roach, of Company A, and 
the sickness of Capt. Hock, of Company F, I was in 
command of the detachment of cavalry, and at once 
ordered a l)ugler who happened to be standing near, to 



14 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

.«<()uii(l I500TS AND SADDLES ; seiit Lieiitemiut Russel, who 
was mojnited, having just rode up, to headquarters, to 
iiotifv General Wessels that our pickets liad been driven 
in and ask for orders for the cavahy. He returned just 
as I liad formed tlie two companies into hue with orders 
to make a reconnoissance on the Washington road, and, 
without getting into a tight, ascertain, as near as I couhl, 
tiie strength of the enemy in our front. 

I ascertained by a careful reconnoissance that Maj. 
Gen. Hoke was in front with about eight thousand 
trooi)s. In this reconnoissance I lost one man, "Amos 
Fanclicr," killed, and one, "Lieut. Russell," severely 
wounded. Hoke formed his line and threw out his 
skirmishers, but made no further demonstrations that 
night, a few shells from Fort Williams having the etfect 
of" checking any further movement. 

At 11 o'clock that night, Gen. Wessels sent the 
steamer Massasoit, carrying the women and other non- 
combatants, and the wounded, to Newbern. Among the 
\\()ni(!n were Mrs. George H, Hastings, Mrs. Dr. Frick, 
Mrs. Capt. Hock, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. and Miss Freeman and 
Mrs. A. Cooper (wlio had l)een with me from the 7th 
of Fel)ruary), and others. Preparations were made for a 
stout resistance by Gen. Wessels, who was a gallant 
ofhcei-. He established a strong skirniisli line nearly two 
miles in length along our entire front and had everything 
in reacrnicss 1o rep<'l any attack ihat might 1)e made ; but 
the uiiiiit passed without any furtlier demonstration. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 15 

Early on the morning of the 18th there was shght 
skirmishing commenced along our entire front, and a bom- 
bardment was commenced upon Fort Gray, which was 
our extreme right and about one and one-half miles up 
the river. 

In this bombardment the gunboat Bombshell, which 
had been sent to the assistance of the fort, was so crip- 
pled that she sank immediately upon reaching the wharf 

The attack on Fort Gray was repulsed, and our 
skirmish line in front maintained its position all day. At 
5:30 p. m. I received orders to take the two companies of 
cavalry, dismounted, uj) to the breastworks near Fort 
Wilhams. 

Fortunately I was mounted at the time, and rode up 
to the front, where, sitting on my horse, I had a splendid 
view of the battle that ensued. 

We had just arrived at the breastworks when the 
skirmishing became brisk, our boys pushing the 
enemy's skirmishers Iwck some distance, when suddenly, 
as if by magic, a line of l)attle over a mile in length 
seemed to spring up (jut of the ground and charged our 
skirmish line, driving them back towards the works. As 
they fell back, firing as they retired, Fort Williams open- 
ed with her entire armament, which, in a moment, was 
joined in by Comphor and Coneby redoubts, Fort Wessels, 
Cady's Independent Battery and the entire fleet of gun- 
boats in the river. 

Hoke opened on the town with forty-two pieces of 



16 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

artillery ; \yessels replied with just about the same num- 
ber of pieces, but of heavier cabbre. From 6 until 8.30 
p. m. was kept uj) a most territic cannonade, which })re- 
sented a spectacle awfully grand and magnificeiit. The 
gunboats, which were supplied with an armament of very 
heavy guns, sending immense shell shrieking and l)urst- 
ing over our heads as they were hurled into the lines of 
the enemy, the forts on our right and left keeping up an 
incessant roar, a stream of tire belching from the hot 
throats of Hoke's forty-two pieces in our front, the comet- 
like J:rail of tire from his shells as they hurried on their 
mission of death tow^ards us, the rattle of grape and can- 
nister as they were hurled against the wooden buildings 
in our rear, or the woodwork of the forts and earthworks 
along the line, the loud bray of an immense number of 
mules, with which Hoke's artillery was supplied, the 
groans and shrieks of the wounded, combined to give me 
such a [)icture of "grim visaged war" a,s I had never be- 
t()re l)eh(dd. 

Several assaults were made on our works, wliich 
were re})ulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. The 
heaviest fighting occurred on our right centre, where were 
stationed the S5th New York; but to (pu)te from the 
ga^llant Phil. Kearny — "There w^as illegant fighting all 
along llic line." A fearful assault was made on Ymi 
Wessels, which was isolated from the liiu' of works, and 
was a (piartcr of a mile distant on our right. This small 
fort or redonbt was delended by Lieut. H. Lee (^lark, 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS, 17 

with part of a company of tlie 2(1 Massachusetts Heavy 
Artillery. It was protected by a deep ditch, twelve feet 
wide, with an abattis of pine limbs outside, with a draw 
bridge, which, when raised, formed a door to the entrance. 
It mounted four or tive guns and was well supplied with 
hand grenades from one-half to two pounds. A numlier 
of determined assaults were made upon this work, and 
in one about sixty of the enemy got inside the abattis and 
surrounded the ditches ; but Lieut. Clark used the hand 
grenades so effectually, the boys tossing them over with 
such precision, and at the same time keeping up such a 
succession of explosions at the sallyp(n-t, that they all 
surrendered, laid down their arms and were taken inside. 
Thus Lieut. Clark had twice the numljer of prisoners he 
had uicn under his commaiul. 

The small garrison of this fort were finally overcome 
by vastly superior numl^ers, but not until the enemy had 
lost in killed over triple the number of its l)rave defenders. 
The ca})ture of this small redoubt was all they had gained 
in two day's persistent fighting, and then only after a 
t'carful loss in killed and wounded. At 8.30 in the even- 
ing Hoke withdrew, having been defeated at every point 
with the exception of the capture of this small redoultt. 
(Jur loss was insignificant, as we were behind good works. 
During the engagement I was struck on the leg l)y a 
l)ullet out of a spherical case shot, but as my })ants and 
drawers were inside of a heavy cavahy ))oot leg, and ow- 
ing to the fact that the force of the l)all was nearly sj)ent., 



IS 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



it only inado a l)l;u'k and blue spot on the side ot" my ley:. 
We lav at tlic breastworks all iiiifbt, but no tiirtlicr 
demonstrations were made in onr front that niiJ-ht. Be- 
fore dav'/iij:ht the next morninti-, however, we were aroused 
bv a shot from the two hunch'ed pound Parrot oun in 
13atterv Woi"tli, and soon the iJ:uid)oats opened their l)at- 
teries and a territie eanoiiadiiig on the river a])i)ri8e<l us 
of the fact that the long expected ram Alhemarle had 
eome down and encountered our tleet. Within twenty 
minutes all was again still, and we anxiously awaited the 
dawn to learn what had been the result. When the dawn 
tinally came we were l)oth mortitled and surprised to tind 
that there was no Heet in sight and that the powerful iron- 
clad ram All)emarle had full [)ossessi()n of the river, 
euttinii otl' both our retreat and re-inforcements. 




IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 19 



CHAPTER III. 

A DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE ALBEMARLE AND OUR GUN 
BOATS— DEATH OF CAPTAIN FLUSSER— CAPTAIN FRENCH CUTS LOOSE FROM 
THE SINKINCi SOUTHFIELD AND RUNS AWAY. 

With the reader's permission I will stop here to 
luirrate the struggle between our gun boats and this ram, 
as it was detailed to me while a prisoner, by one of the 
crew of the Southtield, which, if correct, shows how the 
death of one brave officer and the cowardice and incom- 
petency of another, served to make prisoners of two 
thousand brave men, and l)y the tall of Plymoutii su})ply 
the Confederacy with an immense amount of artillery, 
anmiunition and supplies of all kinds, of which they stood 
greatly in need. 

Lieut. Commander Flusser, as I have said, was one 
of the most gallant and efticient Connnanders in the U. 
S. naval service, and was fully resolved to either sink 
thai ram or sink every gunboat under his connnand. As 
1 have before stated, the Miama was a large double- 
eiider, and she was also a very high l)oat, being a double- 
decker as well. This was Flusser's flagship, and she and 
the Southtield, which as I said, was an old New Vork 
ferrv boat, with wah's reaching ten or twelve feet over 



20 IN AND out OF REBEL PRISONS. 

the water, were fastened together fore and aft with heavy 
cables, and lay out in the channel with steam U]) and 
lights out, intending to let the ram drop in l)etween them 
and then push her ashore, or sink her. It was three a. 
m., when the ram passed battery Worth, where a two 
liundred pound Parrot gun, all shotted and waiting her 
appearance, was located. But when the ram passed, bat- 
tery Worth, she was so low in the water and came down 
so still, and the night was so very dark, that the lookout 
at battery Worth failed to see her until she had passed 
the work, although the gunboat Whitehead, Capt. Bar- 
ret, dropped down just ahead of her, having been stationed 
up the river on picket, and notitied Lieutenant Hoppins, 
who was in command of battery Worth, of the approach 
of the ram. Only one shot was tired at her, and this 
alter she had passed the redoubt, but as she had got by, 
the aim of the gun was inaccurate, so she passed on un- 
injured. 

She ran between the Miama and Southtield, striking 
the latter with her horn on the forward (piarter, just at 
the water line. The ])()W()f the ram had passed under the 
forward cable and her horn was, of course, under the 
wide spreading wales of the Southtield. This boat was 
now rapidly sinking, while l)oth she and the Miama were 
all the time sending solid shot in quick succession against 
her iron-clad deck and sides. The ram was trying to 
disengage her horn from the fast settling Southtield, 
which was drawing her (h)wn willi her as she settled, 



IN AND. OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 21 

makinij it every minute more difficult for her to extricate 
herself. The water was pouring into the forward ports 
of the iron monster, when unfortunately Capt. Flusser 
\N'as struck in the breast l)y a piece of a shell, that had by 
some mistake l)een })laced in one of his guns, and ex- 
ploded as it struck tlu^ ram at short range, killing him 
instantly. 

As soon as Capt. French, wIkj was in command of 
the Southfield, learned of his death, he jumped aboard 
the Miama, calling his crew to follow him, l)ut they 
bravely staid by their ship. He then ordered the caliles 
cut loose and steamed away down into the Sound, thus 
leaving the ram in a position to extricate herself from the 
Southfield, as she could not do while held down hy the 
cable. If French had, instead of cutting the cables, just 
])ut on steam, he could liave run the ram on the shore 
stern foremost, as Fluss(n' had intended to do, and for 
wliich purpose he had the boats lashed together. Extri- 
cating herself from the Southfield, from whose guns she 
was continually receiving solid shot, she opened her bat- 
teries upon her and soon sent her to the bottom, picking 
up and making prisoners of the crew. These were very 
l)itter in their denunciation of Capt. French, whose cow- 
ardice alone, they said, saved the ram from being run 
ashore and captured, as it would liave been had Flusser 
lived. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER IV. 

OUR RETREAT CUT OFF— A PERILOUS RECONNOISSANCE BY THE CAVALRY— 
CAVALRY SENT TO CAPTURE A BOAT'S CREW— FLEEING NORTH CAROLINIANS- 
WALKING BACK INTO PRISON RATHER THAN TO SKULK A FIGHT— FIRING THE 
TWO HUNDRED POUNDER AT THE RAM— SQUELCHING A REBEL SHARP- 
SHOOTER—A FURIOUS ATTACK AND FEARFUL SLAUCiHTER- A PRISONER OF 
WAR. 

Being now in possession of the river, the Albemarle 
t(K)k her station about a mile below tlie town, just oppo- 
site our left, which, as I have said, was un])r()tecte<l by 
works. This was the only weak point in our defence, 
and wdiile our own tleet was in the river, they could ef- 
fectually protect this ; but now that they were replaced 
by the Albemarle, Hoke would have no trouble in get- 
ting through and gaining our rear. The greatest obsta- 
cle now to be overcome by the enemy, was the passage 
oladeej), wide creek and swamp, half a mile from the 
river, which was commanded by (Join})hor and Conel^y 
red()u1)ts. 

At daylight of this, tli(; lt)th, we also discovered 
that the enemy had ti'ained j)ossessioii of Fort Wessels, 
the small works mentioned as l)eing over a quarter of a 
mile (m our riglit, aiul on a line with Fort Williams. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 23 

This, taken with the tact that our retreat was cut off, 
made us feel a good deal as though we were prisoners. 

At 6 a. ni. Capt. Hodges, brigade-quartermaster on 
Gen. Wessel's staif, came to me and said the General 
liad assigned me to a very delicate and dangerous duty, 
which was to take thirty picked men of my command, and 
pass between Hoke's right and the ram, and proceed to 
Stewart's Hill, which was on the river about one and a 
half miles l)el()w the ram, where he thought a l)oat'screw 
from the ram would land and attempt to communicate 
with Hoke. My duty was to capture this boat's crew, it" 
possible. For a fourth of a mile we were compelled to 
ride in water up to our stirru})s, and within eight hund- 
red yards of the ram, which was in full sight. Any one 
who has ever seen a trooj) of cavalry ford a stream, 
knows what a roar they make in the water, a noise that 
can be heard for nearly a mile. We could not expect to 
reach this place without attracting the attention of those 
on l)oard the ram, and as we could not go faster than a 
walk, we would make a fine target for their sliell, and 
we were in momentary expectation of having them ex- 
ploding about our heads. 

For some reason that I never could explain, we 
were allowed to reach our destination without being dis- 
tiirl)ed. Stewart's Hill, as it was called, was only a little 
pine knoll, containing about three acres, and is not over 
five feet higher than the river. After placing my men 
where they would not be seen, and cautioning a lunnber 



24 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

ot" North Carolinians wlio had congregated there for 
safety, to keej) out of sight, I took my station on tlie bank 
to watch for the ])()at. 

1 soon saw a l)oat crew put otl' the ram mid start 
(low 11 the river, l)ut they kept the north shore, which was 
a (piarter of a mile away, and passed on (kiwn l)elow me. 
Having thus taih^l to accomphsh my mission, and know- 
ing that marching l)ack to Plymouth was equivalent to 
going into prison, I will say candidly that the temptation 
was great to patch uyi an old leaky l)oat I found there, 
or huild a rait, and try to reach our gun l)oats in the 
Sound, only a little over tive miles distant. But if I did, 
1 would most likely be accused of sneaking out of a tight; 
for although I had no orders to return, I knew I was ex- 
pected to do so, and we therefore mounted and retraced 
our ste})s l>ack to Plymouth. 

I found on my return, that Capt. Hodges had taken 
some men and attempted to get down the creek, but the 
boat was capsized and the Captain lieing unable to swim, 
was drowned. When 1 reported to General Wessels, 
he ordered me to take my men into l)attery Worth, which 
I did, spending the l)alance of tlie day and night in piling 
up l)ags of sand to strengthen our little redoubt ; tiring 
an occasional shot witli our two hundred pound Parrot at 
the ram, which we struck many times during the day, 
Imt we could see by the aid of our tield glasses, the im- 
mense projectiles glance oil" her heavily armored sides, 
like j)eas thrown against the round surface of a stove pipe. 




THE CAVALRY SENT TO CAPTURE A BOAT'S CREW. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PKIS0N8. 2T 

The projectiles were of such immense size that we ccnikl 
easily watch their course from the time they were twenty 
rods from the gun, without the aid of our glasses, and 
could trace their course the whole distance. 

While we were busy as l^eavers, packing up sand 
bags, I noticed two or three times the zip of a minie ball' 
])nst my ears, and watching the window of an old house 
al)out tive hundred yards to our right, I discovered the 
cause. Taking a carbine from one of our men, I raised 
the sight for that distance, and placed it between two 
sand bags, and when a form appeared at the window 
again, took a good aim, and had the satislaction of seeing 
the form suddenly disappear, and I think he received a 
detail Ibr some other duty, for he did not return again to 
annoy us. 

We worked during the whole night, expecting an 
attack on the right that night or the next morning, as the 
enemy were busy all day, throwing up an earthwork from 
Fort Wessels, which they had taken the night previous, 
running it parallel with our right towards the river. In- 
stead of this, a furious attack was made early the next 
morning on our left, Hoke having, during the night thrown 
a pontoon across the deep, wide creek, in spite of Cady's 
light battery which was stationed there. Furious as- 
saults were made on Comphor and Coneliy redoul)ts, 
which were supported by the IGth Connecticut, and after 
two or three unsuccessful assaults, these works were 
carried, and the IGth Coimecticut fell back towards Fort 



28 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

^^'illianls, stul)l)()riily contesting every foot of the ground ; 
once or twice charging the advancing enemy, and driving 
tlieni l)ack, Init overpowered by greatly superior num- 
bers, they were driven under the protection of the fort, 
where rifle pits were hastily thrown up. 

At the same time another colunm charged up along 
the river to Battery \yorth, where I was stationed with 
thirty men of the 12th New York Cavalry, the ditches 
l)eing filled with loyal North Carolinians. The ditches 
were so deep, however, that they were of no use, for the 
heads of the troops were at least three feet l)elow the 
surface of the ground. 

Cady fell l)ack with his light battery as the enemy 
advanced, losing two pieces within two hundred yards of 
there doubt. These pieces were immediately turned up- 
on our red()ul)t, which, as I have said, was unprotected 
on that side, this battery having been built solely for the 
use of the two hundred i)ound Parrot placed there for 
the destruction of the ram. These guns were trained on 
tlie slat door, and on the opposite side was the door of 
the magazine, which was well supplied with hand gre- 
nades, shell, and a large supply of powder. Should a shell 
come through tlie door and explod(Mnside this magazine, 
it would l)low us all into eternity. 

The l)oys were using their carbines with terril)le 
effect upon those serving the j)ieces; and although there 
were l)ut thirty or ibrty ot" us, so ra])id and accurate were 
the discluirges, that tor some time the enemy were pre- 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 29' 

vented from using them upon us ; but the heavy cohimn 
of Confederates tliat had poured in on our left and gained 
the rear of our entire works, were closing in upon us along 
the river bank, which served them excellently as a pro- 
tection ; while they were within a few feet of the unpro- 
tected portion of our redou1)t, so near were they, that 
after a council of the officers, a white flag was raised on 
a bayonet as a token of surrender, and it had scarcely 
appeared above the low earthwork, which was only about 
breast high, when half a dozen rebs stood upon it 
peering down curiously at us, whom they were surprised 
to find so few in number, having supposed from the rapid- 
ity and etfectiveness of our tiring, that there were at least 
a hundred of us. 

When I found that a surrender was inevitable, I 
seized my pistol by the nuizzle (a weapon that had been 
presented me before leaving home) and threw it far out 
into the river, rather than have it fall into the hands of 
the enemy. At the same time the Sergeant in charge of 
the big gun spiked it, by driving in a rat-tail file with a 
hammer and breaking it off close to the piece. We were 
at once asked to lay down our arnft*, and were marched 
under guard down to the left, receiving, as we went, a 
furious discharge of grape from Fort Williams, under the 
supposition that we were Confederates, Hoke's main 
column following along the line of works, taking them in 
detail until Fort Williams alone remained to Gen. Wessels^ 
and this was completely surrounded, and hemmed in on 



30 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

all sidti-s, while the shaq)sh()()ters ot" the enemy were 
stationed in the houses, where they eouhl ertectually pre- 
vent the men from servinu: the guns. Bravely did Wessels 
defend his strono^hold, repelling all assaults until nearly 
noon, when he met Hoke under a Hag of truee, to agree 
upon terms of the surrender, Wessels asking that he be 
allowed to mareh out with his colors, the otfieers retain- 
ing their side arms. This Hoke refused to grant, though 
complimenting Gen. Wessels on the gallant manner in 
which he had defended his w^orks. He said that any 
further show of resistance would only result in an unnec- 
essary sacrifice of life, and if Wessels still persisted in 
holding the works, and h<' was obliged to carry them by 
assault, he (Hoke) would not be responsible for what 
followed. This Gen. Wessels construed as a threat of a 
repetition of the Fort Pillow massacre, and saying, "You 
may go back and open fire," haughtily turned on his heel 
and returned to the fori. The men were well protected 
by heavy bomb-proofs, and only those who were serving 
the guns were ex})osed to the fire of the rebel sharp- 
shooters, who occupied every available place on all sides, 
and wei-e making feamil havoc among them. 

Twice was the fiag stafi shot away and I'eplaced, 
and so efiectual was the tire of these sharpshooters, that 
i1 was almost certain death t()r any one to approach a 
gun ; when, after his n<'|)hew and aide-de-camp, Lieut. 
Foot, had received a very severe wound while ti'ying to 
rally the men to the guns, the gallant old General I'e- 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



31 



liictaiitly luiuled dowii his Hag, and Plymouth was once 
more in the hands of the enemy. 

Hoke ]iad won a victory after four days of hard 
fighting, but at what a fearful price. With eight thous- 
and veteran trooi)s, and the assistance of the huge iron- 
clad ram All)emarle, he had made prisoners of nearly two 
thousand Union troops, after a loss of nearly or quite 
two thousand men in killed and wounded. In fact the 
Petersburg papers of the 27th acknowledged a loss of 
seventeen hundred in this l)attle. 




32 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER V. 

MARCHED OFF OVER THE BATTLEFIELD A PRISONER— AMONG THE ENEMIES DEAD 
AND WOUNDED— EVIDENCES OF OUR DEADLY WORK— THE REBS GO A GUNNING 
FOR "NIGGERS "—THE JOHNNIES APPROPRIATIN(i MY WARDROBE— MASSACRE 
OF THE COLORED TROOPS— THEY ARE DRAWN UP IN LINE AND SHOT DOWN 
LIKE DOGS BY ORDER OF GENERAL HOKE— CARING FOR OUR WOUNDED AND 
BURYING OUR DEAD. 

This attack commenced at lialt-})ast tour, and at halt- 
past six a. ni. of April 2()th, I was a prisoner. As we 
marched ])ast Comj)hor r('doul)t io the Johnson farm, 
a mih; to the south, we had an opportunity to witness the 
terrible slaughter the victory had cost the enemy. 

Dead bodies of men and animals were strewn in 
every direction. Broken caissons and disabled cannon in 
front of these two redoubts showed plainly what a territic 
struggle had been gone through with in their front. 

The ])iteous cries for help of the sutfering, the 
groans of the wounded that had not yet l)eeii removed 
(tlie ambulance corps not having yet l)een able to reach 
tliem) the roar of artillery and the ratth^ of musketry 
where the batlh' was still going on, the riding l)ack and 
forth of nuHinlcd or(h'rhes hurrying up rc-intbrcements, 
all served to make up a picture that I am unable to ade- 
(piately descri])e. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 33 

The Johnsuiis, who were wealthy planters, had 
taken the oath of allegiance and claimed to be^Union 
men, and were somewhat embarrassed at having ns, with 
whom they had been on such friendly terms, brought to 
their farm as prisoners. They seemed to feel a sym- 
])athy for us, and one of them said to me, privately, that 
they were really in sympathy with the Union cause, but 
were obliged to l)e very careful of their conduct toward 
us while the Confederate troo])s were there, for their 
property, and even their lives, were at stake. I now 
l)elieve they were hcmest. I do not wish to confoiuid 
these Johnsons with one of the same name, wdio lived 
on the Washington road, near our vidette post. He pre- 
tended to 1)0 loyal, but we did not take any stock in him, 
and tound alter our capture that he was an open and ex- 
ultant Secesh. While at the Johnson thrm w^e could hear 
the crack, crack, crack of nniskets, down in the swamp 
where the negroes had Hed to escape capture, and were 
being hunted like sqTnrr(ds or ral)bits, I can think of no 
better comparison, and the Johnnies themselves laugh- 
ingly said (when questioned al)out where they had been 
after their return), "They'd l^een out gunning for nig- 
gers." 

After the surrender of Fort Williams we were 
marched back into Plymouth, where I received permis- 
sion, on the pretext of getting some linen 1)andages for a 
wounded Confederate, to go into my quarters. I found 
half a dozen Johnnies in there hauling over my wardrol)e 



34 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

and a|)i)n)[)riatinij: what they took a taiicy to. I picked 
uj) my l)lanket, a cavalry jacket, a pair ot" new shoes and 
a satchel containing my pa})ers, and tried hard to get a 
fellow to give nj) my dressing gown that I had received 
as a Christmas ])resent a few months before, l)nt he was 
so well snited with the bright colors and tit ot" the gar- 
ment, that he could not he persuaded to give it \i\). Taking 
what I could carry, I went and delivered the linen l)an- 
dages ami fell into line with the rest, when we were all 
marched out on the Washington road, where we were 
joined by those who had been taken at Fort Gray and 
Fort Wessels. All the inhabitants of the town, with the 
exce})tion of those who were known to l)e Secesh, were 
sent out to join us, men, women and children, white and 
hhu-k. 

The negro soldiers who had surrendered, were 
drawn u]) in line at the breastwork, and shot down as they 
stood. 

This I plainly saw from where we were held under 
guard, not over five hundred yards distance. There were 
l)ut tew who saw this piece ot" atrocity, but my att(Mition 
was attracted to it and I watched the whole brutal 
transaction. When tlie coni])any ot" rebs tired, every 
negro dropped at once, as one man. 

G(Mieral Moke had the imputation ot" being a l)rave 
t^oldier, and with tlie exception ot"tliis cowardly murder, 
so t"ar as I liad tlie cliance to observe him, seemed to l)e 
a gentlciiian. We were certainlv treated by himself and 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 35 

those under him, with marked courtesy. Our gallant 
defence of Pl_y mouth seemed to inspire them witli a re- 
spect for us, and they accorded to us every privilege 
consistent with our position. For instance, we were 
dra\\n up in line — I mean the officers — and were told 
that they did not wish to sLd)iect us to the indignity of 
being searched for arms, l)ut would ask us to give our 
word as gentlemen, to surrender everything that was con- 
tral)and of war, and upon our so j)ledging ourselves, we 
were allowed to pass over what arms we had without 
further question. I was also allowed to send two of my 
sergeants who were wounded, Gleason Wellington and 
Sergt. Fisher, to the hospital. As I was near the spot 
where I lost a man in the connnencement of the 1)attle, 
I was allowed to take a scpiad to find his Ixxly and l)ring 
it into the cam]) and l)ury it, which I did. Chaplain Dixon, 
of the Kith Coimecticut, holding the service. This was 
Private xVmos Fancher, the first man killed in the l)attle. 




36 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER VI. 

ON THE MARCH— AN EIGHTEEN MILE MARCH— TREATED TO A DRINK OF OUR 
OWN COMMISSARY AT THE END OF THE FIRST DAYS MARCH— UNIFORM GOOD 
TREATMENT BY OUR CAPTORS— AN ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FRUSTRATED — 
MARCH TO WILLIAMSTOWN— THE BAND AT FOSTER'S MILLS TREATS US TO 
"DIXIE"— KIND HEARTED MRS. PIFFIN GIVES US ALL THE PROVISIONS SHE 
HAD COOKED FOR DINNER— HOPES SOME ONE WILL DO AS MUCH FOR HER 
SON (WHO IS IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY)— A RIDE IN FILTHY CATTLE CARS 
THROUGH CHARLESTON, SAVANNAH AND MACON— ARRIVAL AT ANDERSON- 
VILLE. 

The next day, April 21, we left camp at 12 ni., hav- 
ing l)een issued rations of some of the hard tack and 
coifee they had captured, and guarded liy tlie 35th North 
Carolina^ Colonel Jones, were marched about eighteen 
miles. We w^ere well treated by oHicers and men, and 
so far as my own observation went, no insults or indig- 
nities w^ere suffered by any. I marched all day at the 
head of the column, which I preferred to do, as it is much 
easier to march at the head than the rear, in dusty roads. 
As a specimen of Colonel Jones' treatment to me, I will 
state that at the end of the tirst days march, when we 
were halted to go into camp, he rode u]) to me and hand- 
inir nie a piii< Hask filled with ca[)tured commissary, told 
me to lake a drink and pass it down the hue as far as it 
would go, wliicli I don't think was very far if all took as 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 37 

big a drink us I did. Being a cavalry officer and unused 
to marching, I was very tired with the long tramp and 
the last few days of hard service, and imagined I could 
see a look of envy on the taces of some of those farther 
down the line, as I held my breath on that bottle. 

As we were making camp, Capt. Hock and myself 
went into the woods, on the opposite side of the road, 
ostensibly to gather some dry limbs with which to cook 
our coiFee, but really in the hope of getting outside of the 
guard and sneaking off. We walked along, picking up 
sticks, and had as we supposed, got beyond the line, and 
were just discussing our chances, when we were ordered 
back into camp hy one of the Johnnies who was still out- 
side of us, so we took our wood and went into camp, 
cooked our coffee, rolled ourselves up in our blankets and 
slept as only tired soldiers can sleep. 

Among those whom I had learned to rely upon as 
truly loyal and counted as my friends, were Captain 
Wynn, who lived near our vidette picket post, and a 
lawyer named Jones, who frequently visited me in my 
quarters. I also had a guide named Wynn, a relative of 
the captain, who had l)een with me on a good many ex- 
peditions, and another named Modlin, who had done me 
much service in giving information from outside our lines, 
and who had finally moved his family inside the lines for 
better protection. These two guides I furnished with 
our cavalry uniform and passed them as part of our de- 
tachment. 



38 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

Oil our third day's inarch however, they were 
spotted as "liufililos" by some of their North Carolina 
friends and conchided that the only way to save their 
necks was to escape, which tlnw both did and reached 
our lines at Newburn. 

The next day, April 22, we broke camp at G a. m., 
and marched to Williamstown, passing through Foster's 
Mills, which was surrounded with entrenchments and 
garrisoned with some North Carohna troops that we had 
often encountered in our fre([uent reconnoissances, their 
band treating us to "Dixie" as we passed. The next 
<lay we reached Hamilton, N. C, where we remained 
until ten o'clock Sunchiy morning. Col. Jones, who had 
thus far been in command, and who had treated us with 
marked kindness, often dismounting to give some weary 
Yankee a ride on his horse, here took his leave and 
turned us over to Lt. Col. Crowley, of the Holcomb Le- 
gion, who started us tor Tar1)oro. It gives me great 
pleasure here to relate another instance of hospitality 
which I enjoyed, for up to this time we had received 
more acts of kindness than of rudeness 

We were out of rations and stopped for a few 
moment's rest in front of the plantation of Mrs. IMtfin, 
and I received permission to go to the house and buy 
some j)r()visi()ns. This lady had just l>oiled a ham and 
b;d\e(l some biscuit for the dinner, and upon learning of 
our not having had anything to eat that day, treely gave 
us all she had. I otfered to rcmunerato her, but she 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



would not take any pay, sayiiio^ she had a sou in the Con- 
federate aruiy and she was only doing l)y me, as she 
hoped souie one would do by him should they see him 
in like circumstances. I sought out this lady after my 
return to Tarboro in 1865, and had the pleasure of a visit 
with that son, who was then home sutfering from a 
wound, when I had the satisfaction of, in a measure, re- 
paying her for her khidness to the Yankee stranger. 

Wh(Mi we reached Tarboro we were a hungry and 
tired crowd. We camped on the east l)ank of Tar river 
opposite the town, where I prevailed upon the Sergeant to 
send a guard with me into the town to buy some provis- 
ions. I went to the hotel and 1)()ught nine sandwiches 
for ten dollars. The hotel was crowded with people from 
the surrounding country, who had come to town to see 
the Yankee prisoners, and I seemed an object of a good 
deal of curiosity dressed in the full uniform of a cavalry 
otbcer. 

All were talking al)out the great victcny that Hoke 
had gained in the capture of Plymouth. He had taken 
Plymouth and made prisoners of the garrison, l)ut at what 
a fearful loss. A few more such victories would ruin the 
Confederacy! We remained at Tarl)oro until ten o'clock 
the next day, 26th, when we were crowded into cattle 
cars of the most tilthy description, forty of ivs being placed 
in each car, besides two guards at each of the side doors. 
These cars had been used for the transportation of l)eef 
cattle and had not lieen cleansed in the least since thus 



40 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

used. It was, therefore, like lyinw- in a cow stable. We 
now beiJfaii to realize what short rations, or no rations, 
meant. I IxjniZ'ht a pie when we arrived at Goldsboro, 
tor which I paid five dollars. At this rate a millionaire 
could not long remain outside the poor house. At 5 a. m. 
on the 27th, we arrived at Wilmington, where w^e disem- 
l)arked and crossed the river on the t'errv. Rations of 
soft bread and spoiled bacon were here distril)uted, and 
we were again put on board the cars, which were even 
more filthy than those we had just left. We arrived at 
Florence at midnight, where we were allowed to diseni- 
]n\vk and remain until the morning of the 28th. Here 
our guard was again changed and the lljtli Georgia took 
charge of us. 

We passed through Charleston in the night, and 
reached Savannah at 3 j). m. the 29th. While we 
stop])ed at Savannah, a large crowd congregated to see 
the live Yankees. Thev all seemed pleased to see us, 
and some of our great political aspirants would feel 
proud of such an ovation as we received here, ladies wav- 
ing their handkerchiefs and tlie men cheering us lustily, 
hurrahingandswingingtheirhats. One lady actually threw 
a kiss at me on the sly, and I 1)elieve she was in favor of 
file union — no pun. The next morning, Ajn-il 30th, we 
passed through Macon, making a sto]) of two hours, then 
we started again, and at 4 o'clock we arrived at Ander- 
sonville. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 41 



CHAPTER VII. 

ANDERSONVILLE— SEPARATED FROM THE ENLISTED MEN— AN INTERVIEW WITH 
THE INHUMAN MONSTER " WIRZ "—PLACED IN A CHURCH— DIVINE SERVICE 
SUNDAY MORNING— SENT BACK TO MACON— DRAWING RATIONS— A BLIND- 
FOLDED MAN DIVIDES THEM— LADIES VISIT OUR CAMP AND SHOW THEIR SYM- 
PATHY—UNION GIRLS FOREVER— BOUQUETS AND NOTES SENT US— A DRUNKEN 
RIOT— RECKLESS SHOOTING OF THE GUARDS— PRICES OF PROVISIONS IN MACON. 

Andersoiiville, one year l)efore, had never been 
heard of a hnndred miles away, but is now a place whose 
name is associated with all that is revolting, a place 
whose name is synonymous with suffering, hunger, star- 
vation, despair and death. A place the recollection of 
\\'hich recalls, with a chill of horror, the most terrilde 
scenes of anguish that were ever suffered or beheld. A 
]dace ^\-hose history can never l)e fully written. For were 
all the survivors of that Confederate Hell, presided over 
by that incarnate fiend, Wirz, capable of pcjrtraying the 
horrors they had endured there, it would still remain for 
the fiffeen thousauds, whose emaciated forms passed 
through its gates to their final rest, to write up the his- 
tory of the torments through which they passed during 
so many days of agony and wretchedness, of suffering, 
despair and death, liefore the history would l)e complete 
and the " finis " affixed. Thank God I was not doomed 



42 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

to 1)6 a resident ot this clianial house, where out of 
eighty-tive ot" uiy ))rave coiiiraxh's who l)elonge(l to our 
detachment ot" cavahy, and wlio were destined to suffer 
its l)h)od-eurdHng- horrors, only eighteen ever Hved to 
relate the tah*s of fiendish cruelty to wliich they were 
obliged to submit. 

On the plateau in front of the pen the officers and 
enlisted men were separated, as no officers were held in 
Andersonville, except a few who commanded colored 
troops, whose rank would not l)e recognized by such 
GENTLEMEN (?) as AVirz and his aids. Though I had 
heard much of the hardships of Andersonville, I then 
had no idea what the real horrors were, and after l)eing 
separated I called Sergeant Cunningham towards me, 
was talking to him about caring for them, and endeavoring 
to maintain discipline as tar as he could, wiien a Dutch- 
man, mounted on a white horse, rode up with a cocked 
revolver in liis hand and ordered him, with a terrible 
oath, to " Git l)ack dere in de ranks, and if you come ond 
again I l)low your tani head off." 

Having up to this time l)een treated with the respect 
supposed to 1)0 due an officer, I must say that I was not 
(piite pre[)ared for such a l)ond)astic display of authority. 
The huUcrous gestures and evident 1)ravado of the man 
(t()r I befieved tlien, and do now, tliat he was a craven 
coward) only caused me to laugh as I told him tliat the 
place tor men who wore t"on(l of shooting was at tlie 
front; that I caUed my Sergeant out of the raid\s and was 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 43 

alone to blame for liis leaving his place in the line. 
Knowing Sergeant Cosgrove (or Cunningham, as his 
right name was, he having, as he told me on leaving the ser- 
vice, enlisted under an assumed name), and having been 
with him in places that tried what kind of stuli^ men were 
made of, I could understand the look of contempt with 
which he quietly took his place again in the line. 

After the enlisted men had been sent to the pen, the 
officers were conducted to a small church, or rather 
chapel, on the opposite side of the road, where we re- 
mained over night. We were not very closely guarded, 
and if there had been a probal)ility of getting through I 
could have got away, for I went some distance alone to 
a house and bought some milk, and had a supper of hard 
tack and milk. The next morning I again went out and 
bought some beefsteak and milk for l)reakfast. This be- 
ing Sunday, Chaplain Dixon held divine service in the lit- 
tle church, })reaching from the text, "I have been young 
and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous for- 
saken nor his seed l)egging l)read." The service was 
held immediately after l)reakfast, and at ten o'clock we 
were on l)oard the cars, again headed for Macon, where 
we arrived at 4 p. m. We were placed in Camp Ogle- 
thorj), a fair ground, and were furnished with shelter 
tents, no stockade having then been built there, and were 
furnished with rations of salt i)()rk and corn bread. Here 
for the first time our rations were furnished in bulk, and 
we divided them ourselves. It was here that I first wit- 



44 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

iiessed the aiimsing spectacle of a blindfolded man divid- 
ing rations. 

Tlie manner was this: The bacon wonld be cnt in- 
to as many pieces as there were men in the mess, and as 
nearly eqnal as possible, then a man was blindfolded, and 
as the officer of the mess touched a piece of meat he 
wonld say, ''Who shall have this?" and the bhndfolded 
man would name one of the mess, and so on until all 
were served. 

I was now out ol" money, but I had l)rouglit along 
an extra pair of shoes and quite a supply of extra clothing, 
so I sold my shoes to Captain Freeman for ten dollars 
Confederate money and t^^■o dollars in greenbacks, which 
was al)out as much more. I bouu^ht with this monev six 
radishes for one dollar, a pound of rye coffee for three 
dollars, and a pound of sugar for tendollars, so that all I 
had for my shoes was these three articles, which could 
be had to-day for ten cents, and six dollars of Confederate 
money which amounted to about one dollar in greenbacks. 

Many ladies visited our camp, some coming out of 
mere curiosity and to see what the Yankee officers looked 
like, for in Macon, at this time, Yankee soldiers were not 
a>; conunon as they were when the war closed. The 
march through Georgia had then not been mad(^ and 
"Sherman's bummers" were not yet known. 

Some seemed to 0})enly sympathize with us, and 
l)rought us books and l)ouquets of beautiful flowers. 
One young lady — ]\I aggie Langley — handcMl me a l)ou- 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 45 

quet, in the centre of which I found concealed a note 
giving her address, and saying that if I shouhl make my 
escape, to come to their house and they woukl conceal 
me until I could get away. Lieut. Fish, of the 2d Mas- 
sachussetts Heavy Artillery, received a l)0()k from a 
couple of ladies named Richardson bearing a similar note 
on one of the fly leaves. Thus early we tound that al- 
though we w^ere held as prisoners by a hostile enemy, 
we were still in the midst of sympathizing friends. 

, Having so recently come from Plymouth, where we 
had been in garrison, we were dressed in our best uni- 
forms, and being all oflficers, we, of course, presented a 
very creditable appearance. The Misses Richardson 
spoken of, said they were natives of New York State, and 
were heartily in sympathy wqth the North. 

There was a stream that ran through the camp 
grounds, in which it was my daily hal)it to bathe. In fact, 
during all my prison life, 1 never neglected an opportunity 
to take a bath whenever I could get a chance to do so. 
To this I attribute, more than anything else, the good 
health I enjoyed during nearly all the time spent in 
Southern prisons. 

I do not mean to say liy this, that bathing would 
have saved the lives of all, or any great proportion of 
those who died in prison, Init I do say that when the 
tacilities of cleanliness were afforded us, there was a not- 
able decrease in the mortality. 

Hence the difference in the mortality of the officers'' 



46 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 

prisons and those of the enlisted men, where bathing was 
impossible. Had onr men in Andersonville been placed 
in good, roomy, clean (piarters, through which Howed a 
good stream of pure running water, thousands who now 
fileej) in that densely populated city of the Union dead, 
would now l)e here to relate tlie sufferings and ])rivations 
they endured. It was not altogether the insufficiency of 
food that killed off those true-hearted patriots, but the 
need of wholesome quarters, and the facilities for cleanli- 
ness as well. There is nothing so invigorating to the 
system as a daily bath in pnre, cold water, and on the 
other hand there is nothing more debilitating, or conducive 
to disease and death, tlian crowded and filthy qnarters, 
without the necessary sanitary conveniences to permit the 
enjoyment of this invigorating luxury. 

On the 7th a fire broke out, and nearly all of the 
guards who were on duty at the time, went to town ; 
^\hen they returned they were drunk, and for a time it 
looked as though we would have to turn out and 
assist in their arrest. Gruns aud pistols were used, and 
the bullets came whizzing over our heads in the most 
reckless uiamier. This, of course, was very interesting 
for us, who were obliged to lie in our tents, surrounded 
wi1ii armed men, aud take all the chances of a fight with- 
out l)eiug al)le fo partici})ate in it. The melee finally 
ended by four of the guards who were crazy drunk, be- 
inii' hucked and gauged to keep them ((uiet. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PKIS0N8. 47 

On the third dixy of May, twenty-nine officers were 
l)ronght into camp, ^^•ho had l)een taken at Chattanooga. 
This gave ns some news from our western army, and 
for a day seemed to divert our minds. I see l)y a diary 
kept ])y me in [)rison, that on that day I paid ten doUars 
for a colfee pot, and three dollars for a cnp, and (m the 
5th of May I l)onght one cpiart of strawl)erries for three 
dollars, and four dozen eggs tor ten dollars. This was 
for our mess, which consisted of Captain R. B. Hock, 12th 
New York Cavalry, Captain Cady, 24th New York In- 
(h'pendent Battery, and myself I make this statement 
for fear some one who had ke})t track of my receijtts and 
expenses, would think I was l)uying too much with the 
money received from the sale of that pair of shoes, audi 
will say here, althougli it may seem })aradoxical, that 
although I had when I arrived at Macon, only one <lollar 
in Greenl)acks and a ten dollar North Carolina l)ill, still 
I spent while in prison, over ten thousand dollars in Con- 
federate money, and got it all honestly too. And I wish 
to say here, that I had enough to eat nearly all the time 
I \\as a prisoner. We were always pleased to welcome 
new arrivals, for then we could get news from our armies 
that we could rely u})on, and were cheered to hear l)y 
cxevy fresh fish that came, that our bully l)oy Grant was 
])ushing Lee hack on to Richmond, and that Petersl»urgh 
was lieseiged. New arrivals were almost daily coming- 
in, and we always crowded about them to hear the latest 
news from the front. It was noticealde that everv one 



48 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONP. 

gave us something that was cheerful. Never while I was 
a prisoner did- 1 hear any (lou])t expressed as to the ulti- 
mate result, either In those Union prisoners or the new 
arrivals. Naturally of a hopetid and cheerful disposition, 
and always looking upon the bright side of every (pies- 
tion, I (to use a slang phrase) soon 'Humbled to the situa- 
tion," and tried to accommodate myself to the circum- 
stances that surrounded me. 

I found that in prison, as at home, there were some 
who were fitted for one thing and some for another. The 
same adaptability for different pursuits were found there 
as are found in our home every day life. There were 
mechanics, tradesmen, artists and lal)orers. Some could 
take l)eef l)ones and out of them fashion all manner of 
beautiful trinkets, such as na])kin rings, ])ildes, crochet 
needles, etc., others could make pencil sketches of the 
diHerent scenes that were daily witnessed, portraits of 
prisoners, sketches of the ditierent portions of the stockade 
and quarters. Others were better adapted to buying and 
selling, and still others could re])air or make shoes. I 
remember seeing one i)air of shoes made that I nuist 
describe. The sole was shaped out of a piece of pine 
board or plaidv, and the uppers were made out of an old 
])air of l)oot legs; a groove was made entirely around tlie 
sole, and the leather pegged on, so that the sole came out 
about half an inch each side, making a really artistici)air 
of shoes, and duralde too, fastened together with wooden 
pegs whittled out by hand. I had a pair of slippers made 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISON?. 49 

out ot" the cape of my overcoat that were not only coni- 
forta))le, l)iit serviceable as well, and not at all bad look- 
ing. In this prison every trade was represented and 
nearly all were plied to some extent, sometimes for the 
l)iirpose of gaining a living and sometimes to keep the 
mind ()ccu])ied, and to make their quarters more com- 
fortal)le. 

xVs for myself, having np to the time of entering the 
service l)een a salesman, I found this to be my most 
profitalde vocation. I sold on connnission; I see by re- 
ferring to a diary ke})t by me daring my imprisonment, 
that on the lltli of May I sold a pair of gauntlets for one 
officer for twenty dollars and another pair for twenty-tive 
dollars ;' also a hat for Lieutenant Hastings, 24th New 
York Independent Battery, for twenty dollars. By thus 
selling tor others who could not sell such articles, or buy- 
ing of them and selling to the Johnnies, I could make 
enough, with an occasional sale of some ot" my own sur- 
plus stock, to buy enough provisions to add to my drawn 
rations to make myself quite comfortal)le most of the time. 
I was always fond of a good meal, and I fear when I give 
a list of what I bought and the price I paid, the reader 
will think I had rather extravagant notions in this respect. 
For instance, one day I paid fifteen dollai's tor a beef 
shank and fifty-six dollars for a smoked ham, five dollars 
for a dozen eggs, and three seventy-five tor a cahl)age, 
and was offered })eas in the pod at one dollar a quart, 

but I thought this would be rather too rich for my blood 

4 



50 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



and postponed the purchase, hoping for a (hxdiiie in the 
market. Now do not think that I ate all of this myself. 
There were three of us in the mess, and I did the buy- 
ing and cooking for the party. The alcove j)urchase was 
oidy one of many, but will serve to show how inindi it 
cost us to live. When it is considered that hve dollars 
in Confederate money was only equal to one dollar in 
greenbacks, and that a dollar greenback was only about 
forty cents in gold, it will be conceded that the price 
paid after all was not so very high, especially when it is 
remembered the scarcity of provisions at that time, May, 
1864: for instance, the ham, for which I paid titty-six 
(htllars was only four dollars and hity cents. 




IN AND OUT OF R^BEL PRISONS. 51 



CHAPTER VIII. 

MOVING INTO THE STOCKADE— SKIRMISHING— MR. CASHMEYER'S SUTLER WAGON- 
CAPTAIN IRSH BUCKED AND GAG<4ED BY ORDER OF TABB— CAPTAIN TABB RE- 
LIEVED—HOW WE PASSED THE TIME— THE MEETINGS— GAMBLING HOUSES— 

■ SOCIAL AND SINGING CIRCLES. 

On the 17th of May the stockade was completed 
and we were moved inside, where we were joined bv 
eight hundred other othcers, who had been confined in 
Richmond, among whom were Brio^adier Generals Wes- 
sels and Scammon. Twenty-one others, who had been 
confined in jail in the city of Macon, were also added to 
our niinil)er. Most of the Richmond prisoners had been 
there a long time and were out of money and nearly des- 
titute of clothing. We had up to this time l)een com- 
paratively free from vermin, having thus far l)een in an 
open field with only a guard around us and with some 
facilities for cleanliness. But contact with these old '^ salt 
cod," as they were called (we being designated as fresh 
fish), soon l^rought us to the daily skirmish line, and we 
thereafter found plenty to do to keep the gray backs in 
any kind of subjection. At first it was with a good deal 
of end^arrassment and attempted concealment that this 
necessary duty was performed. 



IN AND OUT. OF REBEL PRISONS. 



I shall never forget my first eti'orts in this new duty. 
' All (lay I had been annoyed l)y something tiekling my 
leg at a certain spot, and liad tried all sorts of ways to 
rid myself of the annbyanee, l>ut though for a moment 
relieved, it wouhl every time return to pester me. I 
more than half suspected the cause, but did not dare to 
let my companions see that there was anything the mat- 
ter, lest they should drive me out of the tent and refuse 
to associate with me. I finally managed to be left alone 
in the tent, and quickly taking ofl' my pants and drawers 
proceeded to investigate the affair. I was nervous and 
excited, fearing while I was prosecuting the investigation 
one or both of them might return and discover what I 
was doing. I felt like a culprit and Idushed like a school 
^irl at the sound of approaching footsteps. A sense of 
guiltiness took possession of me, and I felt as though I 
was committing some terrible crime. I know I should 
have fled most ignominiously had either of them come 
l)ack, while I was thus employed, for such a thing had 
not been thought of as possible to us, and it would for- 
ever disgrace me to be the one who should bring such a 
filthy plague into our hitherto tidy and carefully-kept 
tent. It did not take long to solve the mystery, and to 
say thai I was thoroughly disgusted and overcome to find 
my worst fears realized, in discovering two good, fat, 
healthy-looking graybacks under the seams of my 
drawers, would but faiiilly express the sensations I ex- 
oericiiccd. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 55 

After assuring myself that there were no more I 
hastily resumed my apparel, and tried to look as though 
nothing had occurred when my comrades again returned. 
But that guilty feeling would not forsake me, and I was 
really ashamed to look them in the face, and though I 
tried hard to appear natural, I thought they looked at 
me suspiciously. 

"Conscience makes cowards of us all." 
I know I was gloomy and dejected all the balance 
of the evening. This was noticed by my tent mates, l)ut 
was attributed to a far diiferent cause. They thought I 
w^as homesick, while the discovery had only made me 
sick at the stomach. It was not many weeks, however, 
before I could set down with my pipe in my mouth, in 
company with half a dozen others, and go through the 
same operations wdth the nonchalance that the same 
number of old ladies would gossip over their knitting 

WORK. 

Before our prison life was over, it was no uncommon 
occurrence to receive a morning call from some old com- 
rade, who would do as these old ladies used to do when 
they went a visiting, l)rinir his k — nittiiig work along, 
and in passing one another's quarters such dialogues as 
this would frequently he heard : " Hello, Johnny ! on 
the skirmish line, what luck? " "Oh I ain'-t doing much 
this morning, kind er drivin' in the pickets, git a stray 
shot now and then, but I keep annoying them so they 
don't get a chance to form." 



5() IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

It is astonishing" how (jiiickly we became accustomed 
to things of this sort. The Brigadier General, wlio in 
garrison or iiehl seemed so reserved and dignified, was 
here on the level with the Lieutenant in the company. 
And while raids, in prison, as in the held, was respected, 
and genius was honored, on the skirmish line all met on 
an equality. In other words raidv was waived in the 
presence of a common enemy — and the othcer who 
neglected to daily inspect his clothing, was unmindful 
both of his own comfort, a\idthe respect of his comrades. 
Our facilities for washing and boiling our clothing was 
very limited, and nothing 1)ut l)oiling them would have 
any eifect in exterminating these troublesome pests ; soap 
was a scarce commodity, and kettles for heating water 
were ditHcnlt to ol)tain, so the only way to rid ourselves 
of vermin, was to strip oil' our woolen shirt, (white shirts 
were seldom seen in prison) set down and carefully scru- 
tinize the seams, where they would be fonnd hid away; 
tor it is a singular fact, that although while the shirt was 
on we could feel them roaming around all over the body, 
no sooner was it dotted than with a celerity that is perfectly 
unaccountable, tliey would all 1)0 found securely hid 
away under th(^ seams of the garment, where they would 
leave an innumerable mnnber of eggs, which were soon 
to be hatched out and become almost full, grown by the 
next morning. Having thoroughly exterminated the 
living, and destroyed as many of the still inanimate as pos- 
sible, we would resume our shirl, and removing our pants 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 



and drawers, repeat the operation on these garments, 
and would tlien be comfortable the l^alance of the day. 

This duty was usually performed just after break- 
fast, while we were enjoying our pipes, and talking over 
plans for the day, and would occupy about an hour. 
After coming oif of duty on the skirmish line, it would 
be a1)()ut time to fall in tor roll call, or more properly 
speaking, for count. We were made up into squads of 
ninety each, and one of our comrades chosen as com- 
mandant, who would, at a signal, fall in his squad in two 
ranks, when each squad wcndd be counted to make sure 
that none had escaped. This counting was always done 
l\v a reb sergeant, who \\'ould l)e accompanied by an 
armed guard of twenty-five or thirty soldiers. When the 
count was completed, we would break ranks and sepa- 
rate, to pass the day as best suited each individual. 
Usually the first thing to l)e thought of was the pur- 
chases for the day, or as we would call it here at home, 
marketing. These purchases were generally made of a 
reb sutler named Cashmeyer, who was allowed to come 
into the enclosure, accom2:)anied by a guard and attended 
l\v a negro, driving a mule hitched to a cart. The cart 
would l)e loaded with beef, l)acon, potatoes, onions, cal)- 
bage, tobacco, cigars, soap, etc., which had l)een ordered 
the day previous. We also had two or three sutlers of 
our own numl)er, who bought of the reb sutler in large 
(pumtities, and then retailed it out at a small })roht, saj' 
al)out two hundred per cent, to those whose means were 
too limited to buv at wholesale. 



58 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

( )ur moss, consisting of Cci])t. R. B. Hock, 12tli 
New York Cavalry, Capt. C^idy, 24tli New York Inde- 
pendent Battery, and niyselt", was prol)a1)ly as well sup- 
plied with liinds as any in the camp ; and as Iwas caterer 
and cook, and unrestricted in my expenditures by Cai)t. 
Hock, who supplied most of the funds, our tahle was 
usually as well supplied as the scanty market would al- 
lows I would send out l)y this rel) sutler for fifty or 
seventy -five dollars' worth of provisions at a time, and by 
thus buying in large quantities, get the lowest rates. I 
have spoken about liuying our provisi(nis in large quan- 
tities — I mean by this a half peck of ])otat()es, a dozen 
eggs, a couple of loaves of sott bread, a whole ham, 
which down there would weigh, perha})S, ten or twelve 
pounds, a ([uart of onions, etc. Now a small quantity as 
sold by our sutler inside would mean a couple of pota- 
toes, an onion, a pint of corn meal, and half a pound ot 
meat of some kind. This, in addition to the rations we 
drew, would suffice for a day very well. We drew three 
or four days' rations at a time. These rations consisted 
of two ounces of liacon, half a pint of rice, a pint of corn 
meal, and a teas})oonful of salt a day per man ; l)ut when 
Capt. W. Kem}) Tabl) took connnand of the prison camp 
he at once cut tliese down one-third. Capt. Tabb took 
command the; 18th of May, relieving Major Turner (not 
Dick Turner), who was a gentleman and a soldier, and 
who seemed to try to make our imprisonment as endura- 
ble as possiljle. On the other hand, Tabb was a cow- 




CAPT. IRSH BUCKED AND GAGGED BY CAPT. TABB, AT MACON, GA. 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 61 

ardly rascal, who seemed to delight in nothing so mucii 
as in adding to our discomfort and annoyance. 

He did not hesitate to plunder or rob the prisoners 
under his charge, and if any one reposed contidence 
enough in him, to let him have anything of value to sell 
t()r them, they were just out that amount. Captain 
Francis Irsh, of the 45th New York, let Tahl) take his 
watch and chain to see if he could sell it to some jeweler 
for 8400, and after having been put off ou one excuse 
and another for several days, threatened to report Tabb 
for swindling him, when he was bucked and gagged for 
three hours, setting in the hot sun, as a punishment lor 
his offence. His watch and chain was subsecpiently re- 
turned, Tabb 1)eing afraid that keeping it would get him 
into trouble. The next day, he having Inward that I had 
a good iield glass, tried l)y soft talk al)out l)uying it, to 
get it into his possession, l)ut learning from on(^ of my 
comrades that he was aware that I owned one, and was 
trying to buy it, I took it apart and divided it up among 
half a dozen of my friends, aud when he came I told him 
I had disposed of it, which was true, for I had done so 
most effectually. He succeeded, how^ever, l)y pretending 
to wish to buy, in inducing Doctor McPherson to show 
his, and when he got it into his possession, claimed it as 
a contral)and article, and contiscated it to himself. I 
hnd in my diary of the same day (June second), this note : 
Captain Tabb was reheved to-day by Captain Gibb, and 
started for Richmond. May he get shot. 



02 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 

He was well known to all to be an iuipriiici})le(l 
€o\\ar(l, and on two diiferent occasions at least, he was 
most effectually snnl)l)cd. (3n one occasion it was by 
Chaplain White, of the 5th Rhode Island H. A., who was 
an earnest christian, and in connection with Chaplain 
Dixon, 16th Connecticut, regularly held divine service 
every Sunday, and prayer meetings once or twic(^ during 
the week. In these services it was his cust(nn to pray 
for the l*resident of the United States. 

(Jne Sunday morning Tabb came in at roll call, and 
notitied the Chaplain that he would not hereafter be 
allowed to offer prayer for the President. Chaplain 
AVhite told him that while he retained his power of 
speech, his prayers should be dictated only by his con- 
science and his sense of duty. Chaplain Dixon opened 
the service that morning and made in his prayer an elo- 
quent appeal, not only for the President of the United 
States, l)ut for the success of our army, and for every 
Union soldier, whether in hospital, in prison, or in the 
held, and was not interrupted or interfered with by Tabb, 
who could hear every word from his (puirters. , 

()ii another occasion he told Col. Lagrange, who 
was in comniand of nundx'r nine scpiad, to which I be- 
longed, that he shoidd hold him n'spoiisil)le f)r any tun- 
nelling, or allcniplcd escape ot" the men in his squad, 
who liaughtily replied Ihal he was not placed tlua'e as a 
spy or detectiv(>,, and that he should not betray the secrets 
of his comrades, l)ut would, to the utmost of his ability. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 63 

render them any assistance they needed. This speech 
was cheered hy the squad in tlie most hearty manner. 

We always ionnd that our treatment was tiiir when- 
ever we were iJ^uarded l)y ohl sokliers who had seen ser- 
vice at the front ; l)ut when the neiv issue, who were a 
cowardly lot of home u-uards, were placed over us, there 
was no extremity of cruelty and meanness that they would 
not resort to, to render onr condition more miseralde and 
unbearable, even to shooting an othcer who was cpuetly 
attending to his own business. A case of this kind oc- 
curred on the 11th of June, when Lieut. Gerson of the 
45tli New York Volunteers, who was returning from the 
sink about <S o'clock in the evening, was shot and killed 
l)y one of the guards named Belger, of the 27th Georgia 
Battalion (Co. E). This was a brutal and deliberate 
MURDER, as the officer was not within ten feet of the dead 
line and was coming from it towards his quarters, besides 
the full moon was shining l^rightly, and the sentry could 
not have thought he was trying to escape. The truth is, 
he had told his girl when he left home, that he would 
shoot a Yankee before he returned, and was too cow- 
ardly to attempt to kill one who was armed. This fellow 
\\as promoted to a Sergeant and given thirty days' leave 
for his cowardly act. Of course, in a prison like Macon, 
where none but officers were confined, the indignities 
and abuses were less frequent and severe than in Aiider- 
sonville, where the enlisted men were held. Officers of 
intellig'ence were less liable to sul)mit tamely to these in- 



64 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

dignities than were the men, who had ])een schooled to 
obey orders, and couhl and did, command more respect ; 
besides, there were less of ns, and our prison was more 
roomy and Ijetter kept. 

A certain number were detailed every morning from 
each squad, to thoroughly police the quarters, and keep 
them in a good, clean, healthy condition. Then, officers 
were usually possessed of more money and valuables than 
the enlisted men, and were better prepared to subsist 
themselves, when rations were cut down to starvation 
points. The wonder is not with me, that so many of 
our l)oys died in prison, l)ut that any of them got out 
alive. When T saw othcers reduced to skeletons, and 
driven to insanity by the treatment they received, and 
then think of the poor fellows whose sufferings w^ere a 
thousand fold greater, the only wonder is that human 
nature could endure it all. But I started to tell how we 
passed the time. 

After doing our marketing, which, by the way, was 
happily illustrated l)y a reb, who said he used to go to 
market with his money in his vest pocket, and carry a 
basket on his arm to 1)ring home his })urchases in ; l)ut 
now, ho was obligrd to take his money in the l)asket, 
and could almost carry home his purchases in his vest 
pocket. 

AVe amusecl ourselves by reading, playing cards, 
chess, checkers, and other games, while those wishing 
exercise played cricket or })ractice(l the sabre exercise 




CAPTAIN ALBAN ON POLICE DUTY. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 67 

or fencing, to keep our muscles up, and perfect ourselves 
in the use of arms. Sabres and foils were whittled out 
of pine or ash sticks, with which we supplied ourselves. 
One German whose name I tailed to take down, gave 
daily lessons in fencing, and he was not only an excellent 
teacher, but an expert swordsman. I have seen him 
allow three of his most advanced pupils come at him at 
once, and tell them to go at him as though they meant 
to kill him, and he would successfully defend himself 
against them all. One thing I distinctly remember was 
that he could not speak very plain English, and when he 
would give the order, "On guard en carte," in his cpiick 
way of s])eaking it, a person who did not know what he 
intended to say, thought he said " Cut-a-gut," and 
he was known in prison as " Old Cut-a-Gut " always after. 

After we had exercised sufficiently we would lay 
down in the shade and read or sleep during the hottest 
portion of the day. A number of us formed a literary 
association, each subscribing toward the purchase of a 
library that a citizen of Macon had to sell. He said he 
had a library of about one hundred books, that he would 
sell for $500, as he was destitute and was obliged to part 
with them to buy provisions for his family. So twenty 
of us chipped in S25 apiece around and started a circu- 
lating library, appointed one of our number librarian, and 
in this way we were well supplied with reading matter 
for a long time. 

I do not remember all, or any considerable number 



68 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS, 

of the titles of these books, but what interested me most 
were some old Harper's magazines, in the reading of 
which I found days and weeks of protitable enjoyment. 
I do not think 1 ever Ihlly appreciated until then, how 
much real comfort it was possil)le to extract from those 
old literary productions. (Jur reading was usually done 
during the hottest part of the day while lying in our 
quarters, when out of door exercise was too uncomforta- 
ble, and when we got tired of reading we would take a 
nap or go visiting to some of our friends in other portions 
of the camp, and there sit and talk over aiiairs, discussing 
the pi'ospects of exchange, spinning yarns, cracking 
jokes, or singing old war songs to cheer each other uj) 
and pass away the time. Others would resort to the 
gambling tent, where there was always a game of cards 
going on ; sometimes it was three card loo and some- 
times poker; but they would sit there from early morn- 
ing until dark and play for money, and, as is always the 
case, some would come away happy and some liroke. 
But somehow or other the same gang would be there 
the next day, anxious to retrieve their liroken fortunes of 
the previous day, or add to their gains. Men would 
there as here, sell the last l)utton oil* their coat to raise 
money to continue the game, with a hope that luck 
w^ould come their way. Thus, some who came into 
prison with enough to subsist them for cpiite a longtime, 
would soon l)e obliged to live on the rations they drew, 
while others, wdio were nearly destitute when they came 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 69 

in, would live like fighting cocks. I could rehearse inci- 
dents of this kind that came under my personal observa- 
tion, Ijut as I could not do so without giving names, as 
the boys say, I won't give it awa}'. 

All sorts of games were played, some for money, and 
some for })astime. Cribbage, liack gammon, euchre, 
seven up, and sometimes we would play poker for the 
beans we drew for our rations. When the l)ean ration 
was given out, each man would have perhaps a good 
tablespoonful, then five or six would sit down and play 
until one would have the whole, which would make him 
quite a respectable dinner, and the rest would have to go 
without. Thus it will be seen that our prison camp was 
a viUage, where all kinds of business was carried on, and 
all sorts of characters were to be found. We had our 
church, our [)rayer meetings, our social circles, our sing- 
ing, our visiting, and our gambling houses, all in a space 
of four or five acres of ground. 

We had some excellent singers, and were frequently 
entertained during the long evenings with solos, quar- 
tettes, and choruses, patriotic, sentimental and pathetic. 

Among the patriotic songs oftenest heard, were "The 
Star Spangled Banner," "The Eed, White and Blue," 
"The Sword of Bunker Hill," and "Rally 'Round the 
Flag ; " but the one that touched a tender chord in every 
prisoner's heart, and that even the rebs used to call for, 
was this which I (|uote entire : 



70 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 

In the prison pen I sit, thinking mother most of you, 

And the bright and happy home so far away, 
While the tears they fill my eyes, spite of all that I can do. 

Though I try to cheer my comrades and be gay. 

Chorus. — Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching, 
Cheer up, comrades, they will come, 
And beneath the starry flag, we shall breathe the air again, 
Of the freeland, in our own beloved home. 

In the battle frout we stood, when their fiercest charge was made, 

And they swept us off, a hundred men or more. 
But before we reached their lines, they were driven back dismayed. 

And we heard the shout of victory o'er and o'er. 

Chorus. — Tramp, tramp, etc. 

So within the prison pen, we are waiting for the day, 

That shall come and open wide the iron door, 
And the hollow eye grows bright, and the poor heart almost gay, 

As we think of seeing friends and home once moi"e. 

Then there was another, the chorus of which I can 
only remember, that the boys used to sing. The chorus 
was this : 

HuiTah, boys, hurrah ! Shout glory and sing ; 

For the rebels look sad and forsaken. 
Our glorious old eagle is still on the wing, 

And Vicksburg is taken, boys, taken. 

Among the beautiful singers who were in the habit 
of entertaining us, I distinctly remember Capt. Palmer, 
who had a good voice, and to whose singing I was de- 
lighted to listen. I do not know to what regiment he 
belonged, but I do know that he atforded me a great 
amount of pleasure l)y his sweet songs. 

Not being much of a singer myself, I nevertheless 
enjoy listening to others, and as I once heard a noted 
preacher say, it depends as much on a good listener as a 
good talker to have an enjoyable meeting, I thought that I 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 71 

contributed as much as any one towards the entertain- 
ments. 

Whenever there was any singing going on, there was 
always a good audience of appreciative hsteners, and 
among eighteen lunidred officers, I need not say there was 
plenty of talent to select from, and these evening enter- 
tainments were a source of great enjoyment to all, even 
though the same songs were sung over and over again by 
the same persons. 




72 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER IX. 

FRESH FISH— ARRIVAL OF COL. MILLER— DEATH OF LIEUT. WOOD, 82ND INDIANA- 
MORE FRESH FISH. 

Upon the arrival of new prisoners at tlie iiate ot 
the stockade, there woiihl be a cry raised throngliout the 
camp, commencing near the entrance, and spreading 
rapidl}^ to the iarthest extremity of the enclosure, of 
" fresh fish ! fresh fish ! ! " It was like the alarm of hre 
in a city, and quickly collected a crowd, and as the num- 
bers increased, the din l)ecame more deafening, and to 
the new comer who did not know what it meant, ])er- 
fectly appalling. 

I have seen prisoners come in who looked perfectly 
])ewildered as they gazed upon the mob of ragged, shoe- 
less, hatless, unshaven, long-haired, howling beings who 
confronted them, looking more like escaped lunatics than 
officers; when some one back in the crowd wouhl sing 
out, give the gentleman air, don't take his haversack, 
keep your hands out of his })ocket, don't i)ut that louse 
on him, wli}- don't some ot you fellows take the gentle- 
man's baggage, and show him to his room, Johnny show 
the gentleman up to No. lo. I remember especially, the; 
look of perfect bewilderment on the face of Col. Frank 




FRESH FISH. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 75 

C. Miller, of the 147tli New York, as he stood at the en- 
trance of the enclosure, and the look of joyful relief as I 
called out, hello Frank, come over here, and he recog- 
nized an old and intimate friend. And he told me after- 
wards, that he never in his life was so pleased to see any 
one as he was to see me just at that moment, for, said he, 
I thought they were putting me into a lunatic asylum. 

A stinging rebuke was given by, I think it was Gen. 
Schaler, who said to his escort, loud enough to be heard 
by all : "I thought I was going to be put in an officer's 
prison." This practice was mostly confined to the old 
Libby prisoners, who had, some of them, been confined 
for more than a year, and had, in a measure, become de- 
moralized ; for I do not believe there can be anything 
more demoralizing than the sufferings, privations, and 
hardships endured by our prisoners ; and I wish to say 
right here, that to Chaplain Dixon, of the 16th Connec- 
ticut, and Chaplain White of the 5th R. I. Heavy Artil- 
lery, the officers owe a debt of gratitude tor the faithful- 
ness with which they performed their christian duties. 
They were both earnest christian workers, zealous in the 
cause of the Master, anxious for the eternal welfare of 
the souls of those who were placed in their keeping, and 
fearless in the discharge of the duties devolving upon 
them as embassadors for Christ. While all did not profit 
by their earnest exhortations, there were few who were 
not benefitted by their presence and faithful counsels, 
and all held them in high respect and admiration for their 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



christian qualities. Speaking of Col. Miller's entrance 
into Macon, as soon as the crowd saw that he had tound 
an old friend, thay gave way and I escorted him to our 
(quarters, where I went to work, and soon had the satis- 
faction of seeing him happy in the enjoyment of a good 
breakfast. I cooked a couple of eggs, with a small piece 
of l)acon, and fried a few sliced potatoes, which, with a 
biscuit, made what we called an elegant meal. The 
Colonel was busy talking and eating when, looking up, 
he said, as he helped himself to the last egg and l)iscuit, 
" By George, Lon, they give you good rations here, don't 
they?" 

"Good rations ?" said I, "good rations? why, Frank 
how much do you think this breakfast cost?" 

" Why, I don't know, I supposed you drew this for 
rations." 

" Well," said I, "this meal cost just about eleven 
dollars. All the rations you draw for two days, wouldn't 
make such a meal as this." 

(Jolonel Miller, who had l)een a near neighbor and 
associate of mine long l)efore the war l)roke out, received 
a severe wound in the chest l)y a minnie l)all, at the 
Battle of the Wihlerness, and was reported dead and 
was mourned as such l)y his family t"or a long time, l)ut 
was rescuexl from the flames that l)r()ke out, after the 
l)aitl(', and taken a prisoner to Salisbury, and placed in 
llie hosjfital there, whence he was removed when con- 
valescent, to Macon. He soon found the Adjutant of liis 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 



regiment, Lieutenant H. H. Lyman, wlio gave him a 
place in his quarters, and thej afterwards remained to- 
gether. 

On the 23d of May, Lieutenant Wood, 82nd Lidiana, 
died in the hospital, just outside the stockade, and was 
Ijuried the next day at L30 p. m. Chaplain White being 
allowed to hold the funeral service, a number of us offered 
to give our parole to attend the funeral, but our request 
was denied. On the same day one hundred and eleven 
fresh fish were l)rought in, among whom were Brigadier 
Generals Seymour and Schaler. That night about ten 
o'clock a tremendous storm came up, which drowned out 
all who had not Iniilt themselves sheds, and the main 
building, where were quartered the general officers, etc., 
was crowded with those driven from their quarters l)y 
the drenching rain. This main building as it was called, 
was a large hall, that had been built for the display of 
goods during the fair, which had heretofore been held on 
these grounds, and was the only building in the stockade 
that w^as clapl^oarded and shingled, and with the excep- 
tion of an old tumble down affair on the opposite side, 
east, was the onU building in the enclosure when we 
took possession. 

Having built myself a shelter on the first day I en- 
tered the stockade, 1 w^as all right ; Ijut those who had 
burrowed for shelter w^ere driven out like rats from a 
flooded cellar, and were obliged to seek shelter in the 
large hall from the pitiless storm. There was not room 



78 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

for all, and those who could not crowd in there had to 
rough it out as l)est they could. On the 25th of May, I 
first met Adjutant H. H. Lyman, of the 147th New York, 
from whom I learned that Col. Miller was wounded and 
a prisoner. 

About this time, they lirought us in lum1)er, pine 
poles and nails, to Iniild ourselves some sheds, and all 
went to work on the construction. I l)elonged to No. 9 
squad, and on the 27th of May, our luml)er and other 
materials were furnished, and we all went to work, and 
hy niifht had our shed so nearly completed that we moved 
in, though it took us several days to get our bunks fin- 
ished and everything comfortably arranged. It was 
amusing to see a squad of ninety men go to work to erect 
one of these sheds. 

Out of the ninety, about thirty would do the work, 
and the rest would stand around and make suggestions. 
Among so many who should be equally interested, it was 
astonishing how many bosses there would l)e, wdio could 
tell how it ought to l)e done, but seemed indisposed to 
do it. Nothing was done to suit these Superintendents, 
but when their grumbhngs became too loud and boister- 
ous, some one wdio was tugging away at the l)ig end of 
one of these fifty feet ])ine poles, would rest it on his 
knees long enough to shout '' Louder, old pudden head." 
This was a favorite epithet, used to quiet any one in 
camp who got too excited or eloquent on any subject, 
and I remember one Tennesee officer, Captain Hayes, 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 79 

who SO objected to it that he was ready to fight any one 
who called him "old piidden head" — and I have seen him 
furiously searching for the man who had yelled this, 
while he was loudly proclaiming his sentiments on some 
subject, but it only caused him to be annoyed the more, 
for when it was seen how sensitive he was on this point, 
there were plenty to be found to thus pester him, while 
they dexterously avoided the blows, aimed at their heads 
wdth a stick he hurled after them. He was a large, power- 
ful man, with a voice that could be heard from one end 
of the camp to the other, very excitable when talking, 
and could never understand a joke, but took everything in 
earnest, and nothing afforded the boys more pleasure than 
to get him l^oiling mad. 




80 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER X. 

MANNER OF TUNNELLING. 

The inaiiner ot digging a tunnel was this: The 
phice selected to commence a tunnel would usually be 
in some shed nearest the stockade. In these sheds we 
had built ourselves bunks, ten or twelve inches from tlie 
ground, which would usually be moval)lc, and, alter the 
camp had become quiet, one of these l)unks would l)e 
removed and a well sunk five or six feet, first taking the 
precaution to carefnlly lay aside the dirt that was just 
shoveled off, l)ecause that would be dark and look old. 
Then a guard would be stationed to prevent any one from 
seeing what was going on. Pickets would be thrown 
out, who, if any one approached, would enter into con- 
versation with them, in a tone loud enough to be heard 
by the tunnellers, and caution them to suspend operations 
until the danger was over, when the work would be 
resumed. 

In a cam}) of" eighteen hundred, with always some 
sick, there would l)e no time in the night wdien some 
were not going to or returning from the sinks; so that 
seeing anyone moving about camp in the night attracted 
no particular notice. One would dig and fill haversacks 




1. I 












,5 






IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 83 

or bags, and another, with an overcoat on, wonld carry 
it concealed l)eneath that garmemt to some place that 
had been selected as a dumping ground and deposit it, 
returning to the shed by a roundabout way so as not to 
attract attention. After a well had been sunk al)out five 
feet, the tunnel proper would be started horizontally, in 
the (hrection desired, always keeping as accurate a 
measure of the distance tunnelled as possible. When it 
came time to suspend operations for the night, boards 
that had been previously prepared, would be fitted in the 
well, two feet below the surface, and covered over with 
some of the earth that had l)een removed, always being 
careful to put the old dirt that had been preserved on top, 
thus giving the surface the same appearance as the rest 
of the ground; all would then be carefully swept over, 
and all traces of new or fresh earth removed. The bunk 
would then be replaced and everything resume the care- 
less appearance of everyday life. 

So cautiously would this work be carried on that 
officers sleeping only a few feet away would not be dis- 
turbed, and never suspect that anything unusual had been 
going on. Thus, night after night, would the work be 
prosecuted, the men spelling each other in digging and 
doing sentry duty, until, by careful measurement, it was as- 
certained that the tunnel had reached a sufficient distance 
l)eyond the stockade to insure an escape. No one in the 
})rison, except those engaged in the work, would be let 
into the secret until the work was completed and the 



84 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 

tunnel was to be opened. This secrecy was necessary to 
prevent a curious crowd from hanging around, which 
wouhl attract tlie attention of the rel)S, who, in hhssful 
ignorance of any plot, would sing out : " Post number 
fo, twelve o'clock, and a-l-l's w-e-1-1. Post number six, 
twelve o'clock, and a-l-l's w-e-1-1 ! " When, perhaps, 
some wakeful wag of a Yankee prisoner would answer: 
" Post number fo, twelve o'clock, and the Confederacy 
has gone to h — 1," in the same sing-song way the reb 
guard had just given it. Sometimes the Johnnies would 
take all of this good-naturedly, and at others would call 
out : " Here, you Yanks, if youens don't keep still I'll 
shoot in thar," which would have the effect of quieting 
them for a time. 

( )n the 17th of May, we were moved into the stock- 
ade, and it was not long before we commenced ])rospect- 
ing to find an opening for an escape. 

A tunnel was commenced almost immediately, but 
after working ten nights upon it, it was discovered 
and filled up. This did not discourage them, however ; 
they must have something to occupy their time ; and al- 
though we were busy all day building sheds, this did not 
prevent us from trying nights to find a way out of our 
confinement. When the first tunnel was discovered, 
thai had just l)een started, all hands were fell into line, 
and a general search was made for tumuds, but none 
were discovered. ( )n the next day, however. Captain 
Tabb succeeded in (Hscovering another, and in an alter- 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 85 

cation with Maj. Pasco, of the 16th Connecticut, who 
was claiming that he had a right to escape whenever he 
couhl, slapped the Major in the face for asserting his 
rights. This was a cowardly act, for Tal)l) was not only 
arnied, but surrounded l\v a guard, \\-hile, of course, 
Major Pasco was an unarmed prisoner. It made a fel- 
low's l)lood boil to witness and suffer such indignities; 
l)ut what could we do under such circumstances f To 
resist was certain death, while to submit was a mortifica- 
tion and humiliation that it was hard for a proud-spirited 
officer to submit to, in the presence of his comrades. All 
we could do was to hoot and hiss him from a safe dis 
tance, and chaff and exasperate him by sneering, derid- 
ing and laughing at him ; so that although he was the 
king, and we the sul)jects, we managed to insert in the 
crown he wore, more thorns than laurels. On the second 
day after the discovery of this second tunnel, Tabb had 
a platform built on the northwest corner of the stockade, 
and another on the opposite side, upon each of which he 
mounted a twelve-pounder brass-piece. 

Here was a good chance to have some fun, and as 
we watched the progress of the erection of the plat- 
forms and mounting of the guns, we indulged in all sorts 
of comments and criticisms. Some one would sing out, 
"Say, Captain, get a good, strong force behind that gun 
when you fire it, to catch it when it goes over;" "Say, 
Johnny, that gun is like the Irishman's musket, there'll 
l)e more danger behind it than in front; " " Tabl), when 



86 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

you lire that gun, just stand ])luml) behind it, and we'll 
be satisfied ; " " I'll let you shoot that gun at nie for a 
dollar a shot, and take Confederate money, if you will 
])ull the laniard yourself" " How is it that Lee never 
found you out, and placed yon in connnand of his en- 
gineer corps or artillery, instead of keeping such a genius 
here, guarding Yankee prisoners, with no chance of im- 
mortalizing yourself ? " " Barnum would make a fortune 
out of you. Why, he paid five thousand dollars once for 
a fellow that w^asn't half as l»ig a huml)ug, and done well 
out of the speculation." " Oh ! go soak your head." 
" Don't shoot, Tal)l) ; w^e won't tunnel any more." " We 
ilon't want to get away ; we just dig a little once in a 
while for exercise." " You can't drive us out of the 
Confederacy with that gun ; we have come to stay." 

Such exasperating expressions w^ere kept up from 
morning till night, for the two days they were at work 
erecting these guns on the frail platforms, to prevent tun- 
nelling. But these precautions did not for a moment in- 
terfere with our tunnelling, and while we were thus 

» 

pestering Tabl), others were 1)usy preparing other 
avenues of escape. Two tunnels were started sinud- 
taneously, one commencing hi an old building on the east 
side of the camp, and the other in what was called No. 7 
S(piad, which was on the opposite side of the stock- 
ade. The one on the east side was already to open, and 
the one on the west nearly ready, when they were l)oth 
discovered and filled u}). There was strong evidence of 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 87 

treachery in the discovery of these tunnels, as Captain 
Tabb went directly to both of them, and seemed to know 
just where to tind them. 

There was at this time in the prison, one Hartswell 
Silver, who claimed to be a Captain in the 16th Illinois 
Cavalry, l)ut who was generally believed to be a spy, 
placed in there to detect our efforts at escape, and to him 
was attributed the disclosure of our plot. Had these two 
tunnels been completed, at least half of the officers would 
have escaped, and as the force guarding us was small at 
that time, there is no doubt but that the majority of us 
would have succeeded in getting away. In fact the even- 
ing before, two or three officers escaped, l:)y crawling 
under the stockade, where the branch or stream entered 
the camp. They were fired upon by the guard, and one 
was brought back. The long roll was sounded and the 
whole force turned out in expectation of a general break. 
All officers w^ere notified that any one leaving their quar- 
ters, even to go to the sink, w^ould be fired upon by the 
guard. A great excitement prevailed among the rel)s all 
night, which was aggravated by those in their l)unks call- 
ing out every little while — "Corporal of the guard post 
numl)er fo." "Dry up there will you." " Oh ! give us 
a rest." "Louder old pudden head." "What's the 
matter with you." " Put him out." " Shoot him." "Lie 
down." " Tal)b try your big gun on this fellow," and hke 
expressions, making a perfect uproar in camp all night 
long. After a moment's silence, some fellow would imi- 



88 IN AND OUT OF RKBEL PRISONS. 

tate the plaintive caterwaliiiij of a cat, another barking" 
Hke a hound, and another would answer from away otl' 
with the deep bark of the inastifi', another would crow 
like a cock. Sleep was out of the (piestion, you niiu^ht 
as well trv to quiet a barroom full of drunken politicians 
who had elected their favorite candidate as to keej) those 
fellows still. Once in a while the guard would call out, 
"keep still there you Yanks or I'll shoot in there," when 
some one at a safe distance would sing out " Put him in 
the guard house." " Buck and gag him." " Stone the 
loafer," etc., and so it kept on during the whole night. 

The next morning Tabb had two more field pieces 
planted in the woods to the south of our camp, and horse- 
men appeared with hounds to fvdck and capture the fugi- 
tives, l)ut for some reason they could not get on the right 
trail and only succeeded in treeing a coon. There were 
several other escapes al)out thistim(\ One by Lieut. H. 
Lee Clark, 2d Massachusetts H. A., who sought out Miss 
Frankie Richardson, who made arrangements to helji 
him out of the city, but this same Hartswell Silver, who 
was boarding there, lietrayed him and he was brought 
back again. This Silver was paroled the day the tunnels 
were discovered and was never in cam]) afterwards, and 
it is just as well for him that he was not, for, as the boys 
said, Silver was at that time at a premium, and would 
have been higher, if he had ])ut in an appearance. Lieut. 
P^rost, (S5th New York, also escaped in a rel) uniform, as 
did several others, and Lieutenant Wilson of the regulars 



"^ 



«'A 




M^' 



MR, CASHMEYER'S SUTLER WAGON, MACON, GA. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 91 

was sent out in the sutler's vegetable box: This Lieu- 
tenant Wilson was an Englishman, and I think belonged 
to the regular army. 

Mr. Cashmeyer came in one afternoon, as was his 
daily custom, with his cart, driven l^y a negro. Upon 
the cart was a dry goods l)ox, filled with potatoes, onions, 
cabbage, turnips, l)acon, l)eef, eggs, &c., whicb he usually 
disposed ol" to the Yankee sutler and (others whose means 
justified them in purchasing, in what we call large quan- 
tities. He stopped as usual, at the shanty of the camp 
sutler, and there sold out his load. While he was in the 
shanty settHng up, the crowd as usual gathered around 
his cart, and this Lieut. Wilson clambered into the box 
on the cart, while the crowed stood al>out the door of the 
shant}^, the negro driver all the time maintaining that 
stolid look of innocence, so peculiar to the race, as he 
(the Lieutenant) was covered with empty sacks, that had 
contained the vegetables. And when Mr. Cashmeyer 
mounted the seat beside the driver, and left the camp, 
he was as innocent of helping a Yankee to escape, as the 
innocent looking negro seemed to be. The negro drove 
directly to the l)arn and unharnessed the mule, and as it 
was nearly dark, went to his (puirters. The Lieutenant 
finding himself alone clambered out of the box and started 
off. Taking the railroad, he walked al)out five miles, 
when, as he said, he met a man who looked very fierce 
and who asked him where he came from, and where he 
was going. And after giving an equivocal answer the 



0-2 



IN AND OUT OF RKBEL PRISONS. 



uiiiii asked liiin if he was not a Yankee officer, wliieh he 
was too scrupulous to deny, and gave liiuiself up, and 
allowed himself to be brought back, although the man 
who brought him back was like himself unarnu'd. But 
as he said on his return, the man spoke so gruff like, and 
looked so stern, that he thought there was no use of re- 
monstrating. We nicknamed him George Washington, 
and tried to find a little hatchet for him, as an emblem of 
his innocence and truthfulness. As he remained in prison 
for a long time thereafter however, I think he may 
have regretted before he was exchanged, the conscien- 
tious scruples that would not allow him to tell a lie, even 
for the sake of freeing himself from the jeers of his com- 
rades, and the tortures of prison life, which he had to 
endure afterwards. 

It was a long time before he heard the last about 
that daring attempt to escape and the heroic defence he 
made against that unarmed reb who had recaptured and 
brought him l)ack, and the desperate and successful re- 
sistance he had made against the temptation to tell a lie. 

There is not an officer living who witnessed it, but 
will remember the celebration we held on the 4th of July. 
I \\ill here quote what I that day brieHy wrote in my diary 
of this celebration. 

'^J'he day dawned l)right and beautiful. I was up 
Ix'fore the sun and prepared breakfast for Captains 
H()(d\, Cady and myself, which consisted of corn l)read 
and liutter, fried eggs, fried }H)tatoes and coffee. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 93 

Our thoughts, now more than ever, turned towards 
the loved ones at home, wlio we see in imagination, with 
cheerful faces and Inight smiles, hailing another anniver- 
sary of the day upon which our glorious repuhlic was horn, 
and methinks I can sometimes detect a shade of sadness 
flitting over the joyous features of kind friends, as the 
memory of the loved and absent is briefly recalled. 

As we were being fell in for roll call, an oflicer dis- 
})layed a miniature flagbearing the stars and stri})es, which 
was greeted with cheer after cheer, l)y eighteen hundred 
prisoners. All gathered around that little emblem of 
lil)erty, and while every heart seemed l)ursting with pa- 
triotic enthusiasm, a thousand voices joined in singing 
that old song, which never tails to tire the patriotic heart — 
The Star Spangled Banner. After roll call, the otlicers 
by a common impulse assembled in and about the main 
building, in the center of the camp, and the services were 
opened l)y singing "Rally 'Round the Flag," by the en- 
tire audience, after which Chaplain Dixon was called 
upon for prayer. He appealed in eloquent terms in be- 
half of our beloved but distracted country, for the success 
of our cause, for the President of the United States and 
all in authority, for universal freedom all over our land 
and the world, and for the speedy return of peace, when 
we could beat our swords into plow shares, and our spears 
into pruning hooks. 

At the conclusion of the prayer, the entire congre- 
gation joined in singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee." 



94 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

Captain Henry Ives was then called for, and mounting 
the platform gave u.s a very eloquent and stirring address. 
He \\'as followed by Lieut. Ogden, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, 
Lieutenant Leigh, 132nd New York, Captain E. N. Lee, 
.5th Michigan Cavalry, Captain Kellog, Chaplain Whit- 
ney, Chaplain Dixon and Lieut. Col. Thorp, 1st INew 
York dragoons. I have during my life participated in a 
great many Fourth of July celebrations, l)ut I never be- 
fore — and I l)elieve every othcer at that time in Macon 
will say the same for himself — really and truly appreci- 
ated what a genuine celebration of the day meant. 

If a stranger had come into camp Oglethorp at 3 
o'clock that afternoon, he would have thought every man 
in prison was drunk, so intense was the enthusiasm, and 
yet there had not been a drop of anything of an intoxi- 
cating nature, to l)e had at any price for two months. 
Officers were drunk with excitement. The sight of that 
little flag that had been presented to Captain Todd by 
his sweetheart and smuggled into prison, sewed up in the 
lining of his vest, when shown in the morning, had 
created a degree of patriotic excitement that could not 
l)e kept down, and when some one said that Gibbs was 
coming in with a guard to take that flag, and suggested 
that it be secreted, a tliousand voices shouted — stand by 
the flag boys — no traitor's hand shall touch that flag — 
keej) her swinging — there's not rebs enough in Macon to 
lake that flag to-day, &c., — and I really and firmly l^e- 
h(;ve that a terril)le and l)loody struggle wouhl liave 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 95 

ensued, had there Ijeeii any attempt on the part of the 
authorities, to interfere with it or take it from us. I 
never saw men wrought up to such a pitch of excitement, 
and the rel)s were afraid all day, that an attempt wouhi 
be made to assault the stockade and break out. From 
nine o'clock in the morning until three in the afternoon, 
the celebration was kept up, Math speaking and singing, 
when finally the rebel commandant sent in his officer of 
the day, who said we had heen permitted to have a good 
celebration, and now he wished us to quietly adjourn 
which we did ; giving three hearty cheers for the flag, 
three for Lincoln, and three for the cause. No officer 
who participated in this celebration can ever forget it 
while reason holds its sway. 

Lieutenant Col. Thorp who had made a ringing 
speech, full of patriotic fire and enthusiastic confidence 
in the justice of our cause, and the ability of the North- 
ern soldiers to maintain our national unity, restore the 
glorious old Hag, with the stains of treason cleansed from 
its shining folds by the blood of loyal hearts, with not a 
star missing from its azure field, urged with the most 
impassioned eloquence, every officer in that prison pen to 
consecrate himself anew on this sacred day, to the cause 
of universal liberty, and the perpetuity of our national in- 
stitutions, and pledge himself anew beneath that beautiful 
little emblem of freedom, to never sheathe his sword, 
until every traitor in all this broad land had kneeled be- 
neath its tattered and blood-stained folds, and humbly 



06 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

craved the pardon of an outraged people, for their das- 
tardly attempt to trail it in the tilthy slough of Secession. 
I cannot ])retend to give his words, and cannot titly 
portray the tierce impetuosity, with which his scatliing 
sentences were hurled hke red hot shot into the ranks of 
treason. It was one of the most masterly eiforts of 
patriotic elocpience I ever listened to, and when he had 
hnished his address, which liad heen heartily ap|)lauded 
throughout, his hearers were wrought up to such a pitch 
of patriotic frenzy, that I really ))elieve tliat had he at its 
close, called upon that unarmed crowd to follow him in 
an assault against the wooden stockade that surrounded 
us, that few would have been found to lag behind. He 
was nt that time senior officer in the camp, and as such 
liad been assigned by Col. CTil)l)S, the rebel commandant, 
to the command of the prison inside. 

But shorth' after this speech, a notice was posted 
on tlie side of the large building where this meeting had 
l)een held, removing him from the position, for making 
an intlammatory speech, and appointing another officer to 
the place. Col. Thorpe seemed to feel almost as much 
pride in this recognition of his etfort at a Fourth of July 
speech, as in the applause he had received from his 
prison companions, or as he would had he l)een compli- 
mented on the tield by his superior for a dashing cavalry 
charge, and the comjdiment was all the more appreciated 
because it had been paid to him so unconsciously by Col. 
Gibl)S. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 97 

The stockade at Macon was built of inch pine 
boards, twelve feet long, put up endwise and made as 
tight as possible. On the outside of this fence, and about 
lour feet from the top, was a platform for the sentry to 
walk on, where they could keep a lookout over the camp 
to see that we were not trying to escape. Upon this 
platform were posted sentinels at intervals of about thirty 
yards, with instructions to shoot any prisoner who 
touched or attempted to pass the dead Hue, which was a 
row of stakes, or sometimes a fence of light slats, such 
as a tanner would build to keep his chickens or ducks 
from roaming, and was about twenty-five feet from the 
stockade. The original object in establishing the dead 
hue was a precaution against a sudden raid on the stock- 
ade, but it often afforded an excuse for some cowardly 
guard to shoot a Yankee prisoner, who inadvertantly came 
near enough to place his hand against it. We were not 
allowed to hang our clothes on this fence to dry, and on 
no account could a prisoner pass it with impunity. 




08 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER XL 

I 

RECEIVING AND SENDING OFF THE MAIL— ATTEMPTS TO SMUGGLE THROUGH 
FORBIDDEN MATTER— SAMPLES OF LETTERS SENT HOME— BOXES OF LET- 
TERS RECEIVED— MY FEELINGS AT NOT RECEIVING ANY. 

We were allowed to write home, and hy putting on 
a Confederate postage stamp costing 10 cents each, were 
promised that our letters woidd be forwarded to our 
friends, provided there was nothing objectionable in 
them. 

We were obliged to leave them unsealed, so they 
could l)e examined l)y the postoffice department, and in 
order to ensure an examination they must l)e limited to 
fifty words. I wrote home a number of times, and my 
letters, as a general thing, came through all right. I 
wrote some that I did not expect they would forward, 
and was much surprised when I reached home to find 
they had been received all right, and in some cases pub- 
lished in the daily papers. I will give you a sample of 
one or two. The first was written to my cousin, H. 
M. ('<)()] )er, and read as follows: 

C. S. MILITARY PRISON, t 
Macon, Ga., July 6, 1864. ^ 
My Dear Hal : — 

N'early four months have now elapsed since I took up my abode in this 
land of bacon and corn dodgers, and like the prodigal son, I often think of my 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 99 

father's house, where there is bread enough and to spare. I dream nightly 
of fatted calves, but awake daily to the sad reality that my veal cutlets have 
all been transformed into salt bacon, my wheaten loaves into corn dodgers, 
and my wine into bran coffee. 

I had purposed to visit the Xorth during the summer months, but the many 
friends I have found here are so anxious to have me remain, that I find it im- 
possible to tear myself away. But I expect the General* will soon be here, 
when I shall be oltliged to say farewell to my Southern friends and with much 
reluctance leave their sunnj- clime for my cold, chilly, >rorthern home. 

But their kindness and hospitality will ever be green in my memory and I 
.shall improve every opportunity to show them the gratitude I feel for the 
hospitality they have actnaUy forced me to accept. 

This letter, as I have said, was sent through all 
right, whether it was because they did not read it or be- 
cause they tailed to discover the satire — perhaps it 
should like Nasby's have been labelled a joke — I never 
knew. The next was written in the same vein, after I 
had escaped and been recaptured. Both had been pub- 
lished in the daily papers here, at the time, Init the last 
(jue I have thus far failed to tind. It was written after 
my escape and recapture, and detailed how, rather than 
risk the scene that would he sure to ensue, should I an- 
nounce my intention of departing to my friend, the Con- 
federate Colonel, aiid fearing I might ])e overcome by 
such an affecting leavetaking, that I concluded to start 
at three o'clock in the morning, while he was still sleep- 
ing, and thus spare not only him, l)ut myself, an interview 
that would certainly be emlnirrassing to one or both of us. 

But that, after I had traveled three hundred miles, 
his couriers overtook me, and were so urgent in their 
appeals for me to return, that I could not deny them, 
and had concluded to stay and see a little more of this 

* General exchange. 



100 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

beautiful Southern country before my return. But just 
as soon as I could persuade my friends to consent to my 
departure, I should surely return, and would try and 
make my friends in the North a good long visit, at least, 
before making another journey. 

My letters were generally received by my friends 
in due time, but although they w^re promptly answered 
I never received a line to tell me whether my wife, who 
left for Newbern on the night of the first day's fight, had 
got home or not, and when I was finally released, after 
nearly a year's confinement, I did not know whether she 
was living or dead until I telegraphed from Annapolis 
and received an answer. We resorted to all sorts of 
devices to get letters through to our friends in the North, 
that contained matter that we were aware the Con- 
federate authorities would not permit. I once wrote a 
short note in ink on a page of foolscap, and then filled up 
the sheet with a long letter, written with soda, which 
would l)e invisible until heated. My short note was an 
acrostic, and taking the first word of each line and read- 
hm it down formed this sentence: "I write with soda." 

o 

But this letter never reached its destination. The 
reb authorities soon got onto these dodges, and were very 
careful in their examination of all correspondence of 
prisoners, and everything that looked at all suspicious 
was destroyed. 

I only received one letter while I was in prison, and 
that was from Col. James W. Savage, of my regiment, 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 101 

which, for brevity and news, I think I never saw 
equalled. I have the letter yet, soiled,' faded and worn, 
but quote it entire : 

HEADQUARTERS 12TH Is^ T. YOL. CATALRT, } 
Camp Palmer, July ."^Ist, 1864. S 
Dear Cooper : — 

Russell is in a Xortheru hospital, nearly well; Maj. Clarkson is assistant 
inspector; Roche temporarily in command of "I;" Ellison and Mahon 
have resigned ; Maj. Gasper also, though his resignation has not been ac- 
cepted. We have lost a few men in skirmishes since you were taken. Prew- 
ster and Rice, of D, and June, of G, are dead. You and Hock are constantly 
remembered by us all. 

Signed, J. W. Savage, Col. 12th N. Y. T. Cavalry. 

My regards. J. A. Judson, Capt. and A. A. Gen'l. 

On the 14th of June the first box of letters w^ere re- 
ceived in camp, and as the adjutant mounted a table and 
called off the names, eager hands were held out to re- 
ceive a missive from home ; and to show my feelings I 
quote from my diary of that date : 

" I listened with bated breath to hear my name 
called, but the last letter was called off, and I was 
obliged to turn away disappointed, as were a good many 
others. It seems too bad that even this comfort must be 
denied me. I feel as though I was dead to the outer 
world, and only for hope, of which I always possessed a 
good share, I believe I should die. 

"If I could only get a letter from home, and know^ 
that my wife had arrived safely and knew of my safety, I 
could better bear this imprisonment ; but this uncertainty 
and suspense is enough to drive one mad.^^ 

I quote this to show how blue it made us feel, after 
having waited so long, hoping that a mail woukl come. 



102 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

and then find that it contained notliing torus; it made us 
envious of those who had been more fortunate. 

Not getting any letters, made us dou])t whether the 
ones we liad written home, had ever readied their desti- 
nation. Here is a modest order I had sent in my last. 
Please send me two pounds of dried peaches, five of 
coiFee, five of corn stai'ch, ten of sugar, two of tea, one 
bar of castile soap, four cans condensed milk, one codfish, 
five of dried beef, one of cheese, two cotton shirts, two 
pair drawers, thread, etc. Oh, what visions of good liv- 
ing were mine, while I waited for the arrival of the ])ox 
containing all of these good tilings, l^ut that box never 
came. I was not starving, far from it, I had plenty -to 
eat such as it was, and in this respect was much l)etter 
off than tlie most of my comrades, l)ut I so longed for 
something from home, something to remind me that I was 
rememl)ered. It was the subject of my thoughts through 
the day, and of my dreams at night ; and I used to have 
such vivid dreams of home, that after I had l)een paroled 
and returned, I have stood and looked around and 
pinched myself, to be sure that I was really out of prison, 
and not merely dreaming again, fearful lest I should 
wake up, as I so frecpiently had, to find myself still a 
p risoner. 

I had so frequently had such vivid dreams of home, 
and as frecpiently awoke with such a feeling of despair 
and anguish, when I found I was still a prisoner, that 
even in my dreams, I would doubt the truth of what 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 103 

seemed so evident to me, and wonld look about for some 
familiar object, and say as I saw something I recognized, 
I know now that this cannot be a dream. The first 
place I w^ould make for when I arrived at Oswego, in my 
dreams, was the old Fitzhngh House, which at that time 
was THE hrst class house of the city, and order a dinner, 
determined to have a good square meal the hrst thing, 
even before visiting my family. These dreams had be- 
come so frequent, and seemed so real, and the reaction so 
great when I awoke to the consciousness that it was only 
a dream, that I could scarcely suppress a wail of despair, 
as the truth was forced upon me, that I was still in that 
rebel pen, surrounded by an armed guard, with no pros- 
pect of release, and little chance of escape, I can scarcely 
command language to fitly describe my feelings at such 

times. 

» > 

On the 10th of June the following officers were 
called out, it was understood, to he sent to Charleston, 
to be placed under fire of our batteries on Morris Island : 
Generals Wessels, Seymour, Shaler, Scammon and Hick- 
man ; Colonels Grove, Hawkins, Harrison, Lehman, 
LaGrange, Lee, White, Bollinger, Brown, Dana, For- 
della; Lieutenant Colonels Burnham, Baldwin, Barthol- 
omew, Cook, Dickinson, Fellows, Fairbanks, Glenn, 
Hays, Hunter, Higginbotham, Joslyn, Mackin, Mills, 
Maxwell, Mahew, Moffit, Alcott, Postley, Rodgers, Hep- 
ford, Stuart, Swift, Taylor, Lascella, and Majors Beers, 
Baker, Bates, Clark, Carpenter, Crandall, Grant, Hall 



104 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

aiul Johnson. We were quite in hopes that these officers 
were to be exchanged. I again quote from my diary of 
this date : " Exchange stock in this market has lieen 
very dull, l)ut is advancing a little to-day. I do not take 
any stock yet." 

In a few days, forty-four fresh fish came in from 
Grant's army, which gave us nearly our full nunil:)er 
again, and as every few days In'ought us fresh additions, 
we soon had considerable more than when they were sent 
away. These officers all brought us cheering news from 
the seat of war, and strengthened our confidence in the 
ultimate triumph of our cause, l)ut could give us Init little 
encouragement in reijard to exchansje. In fact those in 
the field seemed to be too actively engaged in breaking 
up the Confederacy, to give much thought to their com- 
rades in prison, or what provisions were being made for 
their release. 




IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 105 



CHAPTER XII. 

THE FIRST DIVISION LEAVES CAMP OGLETHORP— PLANS FOR ESCAPE— THEIR 
DESTINATION, CHARLESTON— THIRTY UNION OFFICERS AND FOUR OF THE 
"REB" GUARD ARE MISSING ON THEIR ARRIVAL AT CHARLESTON— THE 
STORY OF THE LIEUTENANT IN CHARGE OF THE TRAIN AS TOLD TO MAJ. 
LYMAN— DEPARTURE OF THE SECOND DIVISION— STOPPED AT SAVANNAH, 
THUS FOILING OUR PLANS FOR ESCAPE. 

At roll call on the 27th of July, the first division 
was notified to lie ready to move to Charleston that 
evening. The prison camp presented a lively appearance 
all that day, baking, washing, packing up and getting 
ready to move. 

About six p. m. we bid them good bye, and went 
l)ack to our now half deserted quarters, to await our turn. 

Plans of escape between Savannah and Charleston 
were freely discussed, and an organized break was agreed 
upon, when they came to the point nearest our forces. 

This organized plot fell through in some way, but 
not being aboard of this train, I only know what I learned 
afterwards about the failure. About thirty officers did 
escape, by sawing through the floor of the cars, and were 
not missed until the train arrived at Charleston. 

The following account of the aftair, told by Lieut. 
Rogers, of the Confederate army to Maj. H. H. Lyman, 
this summer, however, throws a little light on the subject. 



100 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 

Lieut. Rogers said: "I was yery yoimg at the time, 
though a Lieutenant in the Confederate service, and was 
detailed to transport the Yankee prisoners from Macon 
to Charleston. I was very particular to instruct my men 
to be very vigilant, as the prisoners they were guarding 
were no ordinary fellows, l)ut were a shrewd, sharp lot 
of Yankee officers, and would need a heap of watching ; 
for if there was any chance to escape, they would im- 
prove it, and they must be constantly on the alert to 
prevent any of them getting away. Savannah was passed 
without any trouble, the Yankees seeming to enjoy them 
selves, singing, laughing and joking, and they and the 
guard seemed to be on the l^est of terms. Charleston 
was reached, and I proceeded to turn over my prisoners 
and turn them into the jail yard. I had been congratu- 
lating myself upon the successful accomplishment of my 
mission, when, upon counting them into the jail yard, 
what was my horror to ascertain, that I was thirty-four 
Yankee officers, and four guards short. 

Instead of going to headquarters and reporting the 
situation, I sat down upon the curbstone in front of the 
jail to collect my thoughts, and consider what I should do. 

While I was sitting there brooding over the affair, 
and feeling about as blue as though 1 was myself a 
prisoner, a Captain rode up and inquired if I was Lieut. 
Rogers and was in command of the guard, that brought 
the Yankee prisoners from Macon. I told him I was, 
and he iold me I was orderc'd to report to the General's- 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 107 

headquarters under arrest. I weut up to headquarters, 
not knowing whether I was to be shot or sent to prison, 
but conchuied to make a clean breast of it, and tell all 
there was about it. 

The General listened to my story, and after keeping 
me in suspense for w^iat seemed to nie to be a long time, 
released me from arrest, and told me to go back to Macon 
with the balance of my men, and be careful that I didn't 
lose any on my way back. 

The Lieutenant continued, I never afterwards heard 
from either the prisoners or my men. I didn't care so 
much about the Yankee prisoners getting away, but 
would like to have got my guard back. 

He did nt)t know whether they were killed by the 
Yankee prisoners or had been induced by them to desert, 
the latter liowever, is the most probable, but as I have 
never heard from any of them since, I am equally in the 
dark concerning the affair, and, like the Lieutenant, can 
only guess at what took place. 

The next day we were notified to be ready that even- 
ing, and that night we were counted out and placed on 
board the cars. Instead of taking us to Charleston, as 
we had been told they would, w^e were stopped at Savan- 
nah, and placed in the United States marine hospital 
yard, around which a stockade had been built, thus spoil- 
ing our plans of escape. "The best laid plans of mice 
and men aft gang aglee." This was a yard of about two 
acres, quite well shaded with live oak trees, some of 



lOS IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

which grew to enormous dimensions, one on the south 
side, spreading over nearly or quite a hundred feet of 
ground. Here we drew rations of fresh beef, the first 
in many montlis, and our rations were generally better 
than we had heretofore received. We were strictly 
guarded, but, with few exceptions, were well treated. 
Colonel Wayne, of the 1st Greorgia Regulars, was in com- 
mand, who designated Colonel F. C. Miller, 147th New 
York, as senior othcer of the camp, and all communica- 
tions were forwarded through him. 

Of course almost the first thing to do when we had 
got fairly settled in a new prison, was to commence a 
tunnel. Two were started, and had progressed nearly 
to completion, when as in Macon, these were l)oth dis- 
covered and filled up. Another was soon started in a 
different direction, and was already to open, which would 
have given egress to half the camp, when, by a most 
unfortunate accident, it was discovered on the morning 
preceding the night we were to make the break. We 
had reached within a few inches of the surface, and ten 
minutes' work would complete the opening, l)ut it was 
so near daylight we thought we would be already that 
night, and get a good early start the next. 

That morning, however, as the sentry was watching 
a cow cropping the grass just outside the camp, what 
was his surprise to see her suddenly break through and 
nearly disappear. Of course an investigation showed 
what had Ixmmi done, and again had our toil been in 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 10^ 

vain — no, not in vain, for it had kept us employed, and 
diverted our minds from the misery of our situation. 

While in Savannah, we built ourselves what is 
known as the old fashioned Dutch oven, in which we 
could hake our pomes. To the younger readers a de- 
scription of this oven may be interesting. A flat stone 
was secured about two feet square, for the bottom, and 
around and over this stone was erected an oven of stone, 
brick and mortar, capable of holding about four good 
sized pomes. Wood was then split up fine, and a good 
rousing fire l)uilt, and kept up until the oven wasthorough- 
1\ heated, when it woidd be filled to its capacity with 
pomes, the diflerent messes taking turns to do their bak- 
ing, and in half an hour after closing the oven up tight, 
they would be taken out nicely baked, and when proper- 
ly made, afforded a very palatable meal. In order to 
have them fight, we would mix up a quart or so of corn 
meal in cold water, and set in the sun to sour. The 
pome was then mixed in the same way, stirring in a little 
of this sour rising and adding a little soda. This sour meal 
was kept on hand, .so as to have enough for three or four 
days ahead. 

A corn dodger was made in the same way, but was 
made the size of a large biscuit, and was baked in a skillet 
with an iron cover, a fire being built both over and under 
the skillet, and wheli not made light by the use of this 
sour rising and soda, would make a dangerous missile to 
throw at a man or dog. 



110 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

Having now served an apprenticeship of about four 
months as cook for the mess, I flattered myself that I 
was quaUiied to take charge of any tirst class restaurant 
as chief cook and l)ottle washer, and I would bring my 
corn pome on the table, with all the pride with which a 
young wife, would present her best efEbrts at cooking to 
a tea party. And when I had wheat flour, I woidd l)e 
just a httle put out, if my biscuit did not receive the ful- 
some })raise I thought they were entitled to. Our rations 
in Savannah, were more lil.)eral than they had been dur- 
ing our captivity, and liy Iniying such things as were not 
issued to us, we always had a little ahead. 

Colonel Wayne issued an order after the discovery 
of this first tunnel, that in order to give a better chance 
for inspection, tents nuist be raised three and a half feet 
from the ground. This order was usually complied with, 
but some claiming that they had no lumber, neglected to 
do as directed, and the result was that a detail was sent 
in, and removed sixteen tents that had not yet been raised, 
causing much inconvienence and suflfering to those former 
occupants, as that night a severe storm came up, and l)e- 
ino- without shelter, many were drenched to the skin. 
These tents were returned in a day or two however, by 
recommendation of the surgeon in charge. Platforms 
were built at difierent points, upon which were l)uilt fires 
at niirht, to better enable the guard to see what was going 
on inside. Around these fires w^e would gather and sing 
old army songs, which served to put a little spirit into us. 




WASHING CLOTHES AT SAVANNAH, GA. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISO;sr8. 113 

These fires, while they were not built for our com- 
fort or convenience, really were Ijoth to us. They drove 
away the musquitoes and purified and warmed the chill, 
night air, thus making it more comfortable sleeping than 
it would otherwise have been. On the 2d of August an 
order came for our two Chaplains and seven surgeons to 
be ready to leave for parole. It was a day both of joy 
and gloom. We had learned to love those two earnest 
christian soldiers, who had l^een so faithful to us, and 
were sorry to part with them, though we rejoiced at their 
good fortune and fondly hoped that it might be our turn 
soon. Most of them took with them only what they were 
sure to need, and freely gave to their most intimate com- 
rades all else that could l)e of any value to them. But 
to show the difference in the dispositions of people, I 
wish to refer to two cases as illustrations of distinct sides 
of human nature. Dr. Robert Rae had a fine case of 
surgical instruments, which, although valuable to him, 
even after he was free, he gave to Adjutant H. H. Ly- 
man, 147th New York, telling him they could be sold 
for money enough to subsist him for some time. 

The other case is that of Dr. Brets, wdio had a 
mattress and some other camp property, that would be 
of no earthly use to him and which he could not take with 
him, so he magnanimously consented to sell them to the 
highest bidder, which happened to be Captain Hock of 
my mess. This mattress was quite a comfort to us and 
we were glad to get it, even at the exorbitant price we 



114 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

were obliged to pay. We did not begrudge the generous 
Doctor the greenbacks we paid him, and hope he is still 
living to enjoy them, for to such a generous soul, a few 
dollars, more or less, must be a great source of comfort. 
If I could find out his address, I would donate him a 
copy of this volume, just to show my gratitude. Before 
leaving, the Chaplains had a rousing farwell meeting, and 
each delivered a brief but eloquent address, and amid 
hearty hand-shakings and fervent God l)less you's, they 
took their way out of the camp. Only one officer escaped 
while we were at Savannah — Captain Sampson, 2d Mass. 
H. A., and he was soon recaptured and brought liack. 

He escaped by crawling out through a hole under 
the high board fence and tried to reach the fort on the 
coast about six miles away, but the swamps were simply 
impassible, and after wandering about through w^ater and 
mud nearly knee deep for two or three days, was obliged 
to abandon the attempt to reach the coast, and was 
arrested by a patrol, who accidentally run upon him while 
lie was trying to extricate himself from the impassible 
swamp. 

He said that at one time he was in sight of the fort, 
Init the water deepened so fast as he approached the 
shore, that he was obliged to retrace his steps. 

It was a source of some little comfort to us to l^e 
once more within hearing of the morning and evejiing 
guns of a Union fort, but surrounded as we were by the 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 115 

guard of a hostile enemy, how long a distance that six 
miles seemed. 

While at Savannah we were also furnished kettles, 
in which to heat water for washing our clothes ; and as 
we had no extra changes of clothing, some ludicrous 
scenes were witnessed while the washing and drying was 
going on. 

Lieut. Abbot, while boiling his clothing, tied a 
blanket around his waist until they were dry enough to 
wear again, making him look like an old woman, and 
while thus employed was sketched by an artist named 
Dahl, and presented with his own picture. 

On the loth of September we were placed on board 
the cars and arrived at Charleston the same evening, 
where we were placed in the jail yard, to be knocked 
out by General Gilmore's batteries on Morris Island. 
This was without exception the most tilthy, lousy, dirty 
place I ever saw. There were only fifty A tents for 
six hundred prisoners, and scarcely any wood wdtli which 
to cook our rations. At Charleston occurred the first 
death by starvation that I had witnessed, the deceased 
being a member of my company. 

Soon after we entered the jail yard Capt. Hock and 
myself were greeted by two skeletons, whom we never 
would have recognized had they not made themselves 
known to us. They were reduced to mere skin and bone, 
and neither could walk, being on the very verge of death 
from starvation. As soon as possible I made them some 



116 IN AND OUT OF REBEL TRISONS. 

jzniel and tried to nurse them back to life. We fed thein 
sparingly through the evening and then left them a pot 
of food to eat during the night, l)eing particular to cau- 
tion them not to eat t()(j nnich, Sergeant Sweet, who 
was the stronger of the two, promising to be careful of 
his comrade, who could not 1)e depended upon to control 
his craving for food. In the night this poor fellow 
crawled near enough to reach the pot of food while the 
Sergeant w^as asleep and ate it all. 

It was his last meal on earth, for his poor starved 
stomach was too weak to endure so much, and the next 
morning he was dead. The guard carried him outside 
the dead line, where he lay all day, festering in the sun, 
and would not let me approach near enough to spread a 
blanket over his dead form, to hide the sight from our 
gaze. 

There were a number of negroes belonging to some 
Massachusetts regiment, contined in jail, l)ut were not 
allowed to come down into the yard. They were 
beautiful singers, and entertained us almost every even- 
ing while we remained there. This, with one excep- 
tion, was the only sound that gave us any pleasure. 

We could hear the l)oom of Gilmore's guns on Mor- 
ris Island, and watch the course of the shell he was 
every fifteen minutes tossing into the doomed city. Two 
or three times pieces of shell fell inside the yard, one 
piece cutting off a limb oftiie locust tree that was at the 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 117 

time aifording me shade, while I was reading one of 
those old Harper's that I Ijrought along. 

The only escape made from the jail yard was by 
Lieut. H. Lee Clark, 2nd Mass. H. A., who lionght a 
reb lieutenant's uniform, and walked out without a ques- 
tion. He was subsequently brought back, however. 
Upon his return to the jail yard he gave the following 
narrative of his escape: 

As he passed out of the gate, the sentry seeing his 
uniform and insignia of rank, faced and came to a pre- 
sent arms, which he answered 1)y a salute, and passed 
ou. Benig now free from the prison, he started off, but 
being a stranger in the city, he did not exactly know 
what direction to take. 

He had wandered aljout for some time, trying to 
think of some plan to reach our lines, when his attention 
was attracted by two ladies who seemed to be watching 
his movements, from the stoop of a house that looked as 
though it was occiq)ied by people in moderate circum- 
stances. Alter passing and repassing the house two or 
three times, he concluded to try to get something to eat 
there, and for this pur})ose approached the ladies. They 
asked him into the house and set a lunch before him, 
and thinking he would be safer here than in the street, 
he concluded to stay as long as possible. He fouiul the 
conversation of the ladies entertaining, and by cautiously 
drawing them out in conversation, he found them to l^e 
strontrlv tinctured with union sentiments. Finally after 



118 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

satisfying himself that it would be safe to do so, he told 
them who and what he was, and appealed to them for 
shelter and protection, until he could devise some plan 
for leaving the city. 

This they cheerfully promised, and also agreed to 
assist him to the utmost of their ability. They kept him 
at their house two or three days, until they could ex- 
change his officer's uniform for that of a private, and then 
procured him a pass, as their brother, to visit Sullivan's 
Island, which was o})posite Morris Island, and at one place 
was only separated from it by about three hundred yards. 

This Island was reached by steamer and was 
strongly fortified. The l)ay between there and Morris 
Island was full of torpedoes to prevent attack l)y water. 

He roamed about the Island all day, trying to iind 
some means of crossing, Imt could discover no boat, not 
even a plank that would sustain his weight. 

He staid on the Island all night and tried again 

the next day to find some means to get across the short 

. belt of water to Morris Island. He could not swim, and 

not a board was to be found that would assist him in his 

extremity. 

He was without food and was now taken ill, and 
was finally oldiged to go l)ack to Charleston, and give 
himself up, when he was placed iu the hospital, and after 
his recovery, sent l)ack to prison. 

September 26th, we were told that if we would give 
our ])aroIe not to attempt to escape, good quarters would 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 119 

be furnished us, and as escape from here seemed impos- 
sible, we gladly accepted the proposition. 

Upon giving our parole eighty of us were sent to a 
house on Broad Street, which looked out on the bay. It 
was a three story, white house, with wide piazzas facing 
the water, and just across the street were bath houses, 
that we were permitted to use whenever we pleased. 
Here for the first time since we were placed in the pen 
at Macon, we had the facilities for cleanliness so neces- 
sary to insure good health. Then in the evening we 
could sit out on the piazza, and, looking down the bay, 
see the flash of the guns five miles away, anon hearing 
shar]) quick reports, and then watch the course of the 
shell by the trail of fire, as it pursued its course into the 
city, while we amused ourselves by singing and C(nn- 
menting upon the l)onibardment. 

We were visited almost daily by the Sisters ot 
Mercy — God bless these brave, noble women — who 
brought in delicacies for the sick, and tobacco for those 
that used it, which they gave freely to those without 
means to buy, or sold to those who were able to pay. 
They also traded Confederate money for our greenbacks, 
giving us better rates than we could get elsewhere. Then 
they would take the greenbacks to the reb prisoners on 
Morris Island, for they had free access through both lines 
in })rosecuting their christian duty, and they were worthy 
of the confidence of both governments, as they never 
acted the part of spy for either. Braving every danger, 



120 IX AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

and only intent on doing service for the Master, and re- 
lieving sniFering wherever they could tind it. How 
many of our poor boys, who were brought there from 
Anderson ville, and were suiFering from (bsease and starva- 
tion, were soothed, nursed and comforted by those noble 
women. May God reward them for all their self sacri- 
iice, all their tedious pilgrimages, from one camp to 
another, all their weary watching beside the squalid 
pallets of the wretched sutlering heroes, despite the 
hurtling missiles of death, that were Hying in every direc- 
tion about the city ; nothing daunted or deterred them 
from making their regular daily visits, though 1 know of 
one instance, (and it was probal)ly oidy one of many,) 
where a shell struck and l)urst only a t\i\y feet in front of 
the carriage that was l)ringing them to our (quarters. 

They were frightened l»adly, and what woman would 
not be, l)ut this did not deter them from making their 
daily visits to the sick and suHering soldiers of both armies, 
and doing all in their power to alleviate distress, 
feeding the hungry, and watching by the bedside of the 
dying, administering the consolation of Christian faith 
and hope? to those who were passing away, their oidy 
reward the consciousness of a duty well })erformed. 
"^^'rily they shall have their reward." 

On Ihe 5111 of ()ct()l)er we were again on board a 
train, and this time our destination was Columl)ia, the 
capital of South Carolina. We were placed in l)ox cars, 
with two guards at each door, some of the same men 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 121 

who had been guarding ns while in Charleston, and with 
whom we had l)een on terms of intimacy, we having been 
allowed many privileges while on parole, and had not 
l)een under as strict surveillance as heretofore, being 
})erniitted to go in and out during the day, whenever we 
pleased, and had gained the confidence of our guardians 
to such an extent, that they did not think it necessary to 
watch us very closely. This we thought would l)e a good 
chance to escape. It was agreed Ijetween us that Cap- 
tains Cady, Hock andEastmond and Lieut. Masters should 
jump from the car, which was running only about ten or 
twelve miles an hour, and I was to go on to Columbia 
witli our baggage, of which we had consideraljle, so that 
in case of recapture, they would not lose all of this, to us, 
valuable property, 1)ut would again be in condition to 
commence housekeeping. Cady and Masters sat in the 
door with their legs hanging out, and I sat beside the 
guard, and after dark got into conversation with him. I 
had a pine stick which I was whittling, and as he would 
frequently bring his gun to an order beside me, I managed 
to remove the cap from his gnn,. and insert this pine stick 
into the tube. 

This I commuuicated to my comrades. I then 
went back, and, standing alongside of this verdant rel), 
soon had him in good humor by getting otf some funny 
yarns, joking, laughing' and kee})ing him amused l>y 
swap])ing lies with hini, until he thought I was one of 
the jolliest Yanks he had ever seen. And I did feel 



122 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

jolly, for I had a dead sure thing on him. We finally 
got on such friendly terms that he asked me to hold his 
gun while he took off his shoe to see what in h — lit was 
hurt his foot so ; some dog gone thing was pestering him 
awfully; he reckoned it was a dog gone peg sticking up 
tliar. Now was their time, and if I only had his l)elt 
containing the caps and cartridges, it would have Ijeen 
my time, too. We were passing through a swampy 
piece of woods, and none of us knew how deep it was or 
how far to high ground ; but Capt. Cady and Lieut. Mas- 
ters took in the situation and jumped. To show myself 
worthy of the confidence he had reposed in me, I 
snapped the old musket, l)ut that only served to drive 
the pine ping more securely into the tul^e, an<l hy the 
time he had put on a new cap they were out of" range, 
even if the gun had been discharged. He exploded the 
cap, however, in tlie direction of the fugitives, and then 
relieved himself l)y cursing the d — n old gun; but my 
zeal was duly recognized, and our friendship was more 
firndy cemented than ever, as I was so mad to thinkthey 
would play such a scurvy trick, especially while I was 
on guard. It was not long betiire the frequent report of 
arms told us that others were making a "jump for life 
and lilierty." 

About one hundred and fifty jumped from the cars 
and escaped into the swamp that night, and amidst all 
the firing there was not one hurt that I ever heard of 
After Cady and Masters jumped, the guard at the oppo- 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 123 

site door was so watchful that Hock and. Eastman could 
not get a chance to escape. 

Had I not promised to stay on JDoard and take care 
of the baggage, I should have taken the gun and followed 
Cady and Masters, which I think would more than ever 
convince my reb friend tliat I was zealous in the per- 
formance of military duty. I could see from my position 
in the door, dark objects leaping from the car in front, 
followed by a streak of fire from the gun of one of the 
guards, showing that the caps had not all been replaced 
with pine plugs, though I was told afterwards that a 
number of caps had been removed. I think the safest 
way, however, to prevent a gun going oif, is when you 
remove the cap, to insert a plug into the tube. We were 
a jolly crowd that night, that passed through the swampy 
country between Charleston and Columbia, for it was 
fun to see our comrades getting away, and witness the 
frantic efforts of the guard to ^jt-event them. Officers 
were shouting to their men to shoot the d — n Yankees, 
and the guards were doing their level best to obey 
orders. 

But they had been deceived by the apparent sul)- 
missiveness of the Yankees, and as I heard the fellow say 
whose gun I had fixed, "I didn't think they would do 
such a dog gone trick on me, wdien I'd used them so 
well." He seemed to lose confidence in all but me, and 
was mad all through, to think that the feHows he had 
treated like gentlemen should thus abuse his confidence. 



12-t IX AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

AVe could liave easily captured the whole force and 
taken the trahi if we had made an organized eifort. But 
the great troul)le was to get othcers to obey orders and 
follow instructions : all wanted to be bosses. I would 
rather iro inio action with one regiment of enlisted men 
than with a whole division of brigadiers. 

This liict probably accounts for the rebs always 
kcM'pinu the officers and enlisted men in separate prisons. 

AVe arrived at Columbia October 6th, al)out 4 p. m., 
and \\ ere at once turned into a field of a1)out five acres, 
on a sort of side hill. We had not drawn any rations 
duriiiir 1 he (hiy, and haviuii: had no opportunity to cook 
the raw rations we brought from Charleston, or luiy any- 
thing to eat on the road, we were half starved. 

There had been no [)reparation made for our com- 
ino", and the Ijakers were obliged to fire up and bake 
bread to feed this unexpectedaddition to their customers. 
This, of c(nirse, took time, and to nn^i with empty 
stomachs the hours seemed like days. Women come to 
the fence that surrounded our camp, with jjies, cakes, 
biscuits and other provisions to sell, and done a thriving 
l)usiness while ])rovisi()ns lasted : l)ut the stock was soon 
sold out, and yet only a few had l>een fed. Tiiey only 
had to come to the fence with what they had to sell, and 
it was bouufht at whatever price was placed upon it. 

I had just bought some bread of one of these ven- 
ders, when Lieutenant H. Lee Clark, 2d Massachusetts 
H. A., came up and asked a woman the price of a pie, 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 125 

which she told him was five doUars ; lie handed her the 
five dollars, and was reaching through the fence for the 
pie, when one of the guard that had l»een placed in the 
camp, gave him a bayonet thrust in the back, without a 
word of warning or an order to fall back. It was a terri- 
ble thrust aud made a wound three-fourths of an inch 
wide and one and a talf inches deep, near the spine. ^ A 
numl^er of us saw it and watched for this fellow to come 
on guard again that night, but fortunately for him and 
perhaps for us, he was relieved and did not again make 
his appearance. If he had, we had determined to settle 
him (piietly with a stone. An old wooden freight house 
formed the west boundary of our camp, and under it was 
stored a quantity of bacon. A numl)er of hams were 
fished out by means of a hook attached to a long pole, 
and some even crawled under it to get their rations. 
Finally about dark, rations of white bread, warm from 
the ovens, were served and this, with the stolen bacon, 
made us a good hearty supper. 

About this time a terrible rain storm came up, accom- 
panied l)y a cold northwest wind, which caused intense 
suffering to those who had no shelter ; and as none had 
any except such as could be made with blankets, nearly 
all were all that night exposed to one of the worst storms 
I ever experienced. As was my custom on going into 
camp, the first thing I did was to gather some boards and 
improvise a tent from our blankets, using some for a floor 
on which to place our mattress. This afforded but slight 



126 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

protection Irom such a terrible storm of wind and rain 
as that nisjht swept down npon us, l)ut over one thousand 
of the twelve hundred officers were destitute of even this 
slight protection, and many were suiFering from wounds 
and disease. To those it^was a night of terrible sufferijig 
such as few ever experienced before or since. In such a 
drenching rain fires were impossible^ and there was noth- 
ing for them to do but tramp all night long in the wind 
and rain, to keep from perishing. Yet above the howling 
tempest and amid the drenching rain, could be heard the 
cheering chorus, "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are 
Marching." 

Water was running down the slope in torrents, 
forming miniature rivers as the storm progressed, cutting 
deep furrows in the soft clay soil, and covering the whole 
camp with water and mud nearly ankle deep. Few who 
passed that night of the 6th of October, 1864, in the 
prisoners' camp at Columbia, will ever forget it while they 
live. 

The next day we were asked to again give our pa- 
role, in which case we would be placed in a l^eautiful 
grove about three miles out, where we would have all 
the facilities for cleanliness and comfort that we coidd 
desire. We rather thought we would first see this haven 
of l)liss, and then decide for ourselves about the bargain. 

AVe hung our wet blankets up to dry in the sun 
which had come out once more to cheer us, and made 
ourselves as comfortable as possible during the day, not 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 127 

knowing where we were to go next. About four o'clock, 
teams were l^rought up to tlie fence ak^ng the road, and 
we were ordered to kjad on our traps and get ready to 
move into camp. Not having much baggage, we were 
soon ready and the hne was formed, and we were again 
on the march. We had not gone more than half a mile, 
when we passed the building where was manufactured 
the Confederate money with which to carry on this great 
rebelUon. 

The windows were illuminated with the liright faces 
of about a hundred young ladies, who were employed in 
this great printing house, and some of the ])oys failed to 
keep step as they cast furtive glances in the direction of 
the upper story windows, some even going so tar as to 
give a salute that was made a good deal like throwing a 
kiss, while a few cheeky fellows, who seemed to have 
forgotten their manners dnring their long imprisonment, 
actually had the audacity to sing out: "Say, sis, chuck 
me down a roll of Confed. Grot any new issue to spare? 
Give ns a bundle; you can make more." But what sur- 
prised me most, the girls seemed to enjoy all this chaffing, 
and some of them actually attempted to get up a flirtation 
with the detested Yankee prisoners, waving handker- 
chiefs, throwing kisses, and making such remarks as : 
"Ain't he handsome? Oh! look at that fat fellow; ain't 
he a daisy," &c., keeping up a chatter loud enough for us 
to hear until the whole column had passed. 

After a march of three miles, we turned into a 



128 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

ploughed field that was bounded on three sides by what 
new settlers in the back woods call a slashing. There 
was not a tent or shelter of any kind, and this was the 
place that we had been told would afford us every facility 
for cleanliness and comfort, and for which we had been 
asked to give our parole. 

A guard was formed around this field and we were 
turned in like so many mules into a corral. For fear of 
losing our mattress and other camp equipages, if we 
loaded them on the cart, we fortunately decided to lug 
them, not knowing how much of a tram^) we had to make, 
and although it was a hard lug, we were well repaid for 
our labor when we reached the camp, for while many 
lost things that were invaluable to them, in that they 
could not be replaced, we were ready to go to house- 
keeping at once, when we were ordered to break ranks. 

Like squatters in a new country, each man was per- 
mitted to select his location, and I at once pre-empted a 
dry knoll, under the shade of a pine tree, as a suitable 
place to squat and, dumping our household goods there, 
proceeded at once to improvise a shelter and skirmish 
around for something for supper. 

Again, thanks to Doctor Brets' generosity ( f ) our 
mattress, which we had tugged on our shoulders for 
three miles, came into play to make us a comfortable bed 
on the ground, and, after such a supper as we could ])ick 
up, and a good smoke, we curled up in our blankets and 
lay down to dream of home and sumptuous dinners. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 129 

While we were tlms comparatively coinlbrtable that 
night, there were a thousand of our less fortunate com- 
rades who spread their still damp blankets on the cold, 
wet ground, and almost supperless, passed a night of 
sleepless misery. The next week I spent in l;)uilding a 
brush tent. I received permission to take an axe and go 
outside the camp, under guard, and cut Inrush and limbs 
to build it with. I cut six posts and planted them firmly 
in the ground, putting poles across to make a ridge tent, 
and then thatched the steep roof with pine boughs, mak- 
ing it water proof It required a good deal of lal:)or to 
complete the quarters, but when done it was warm and 
comfortable. Having completed our quarters, and got 
everything snug, I made up my mind that I would like 
to move North. 




130 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

THE ESCAPE— I TURN OVER MY TENT AND HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS TO 
COLONEL MILLER AND ADJUTANT LYMAN— CRAWLING ACROSS THE GUARD 
LINE— OUR ESCAPE DISCOVERED AND WE FIRED UPON— CAPTAINS GEERE 
AND EASTMOND RECAPTURED— TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP. 

There was one of the guard, who had come with us 
from Charleston, and to whom I had sohl my watch, 
who had become quite attached to me, and had always 
been ready to do me a favor, when he could. From our 
frequent interviews, I had been led to believe that he was 
strongly tinctured with unionism, and thought perhaps 
he could be induced to give me a chance to escape, if he 
could do so without danger to himself Finding him on 
guard the 12th of October, at the northwest corner of our 
camp, which was the best place on the line to cross, I 
wrote a note to him, offering him fifty dollars if he would 
let me and some of my comrades cross his beat that 
night. 

Wrapping a small stone in this note, I sauntered 
along near where he was pacing his beat, and, watching 
my opportunity, when none of the other guard were 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 131 

looking, tossed the note to him and sat down under the 
shade of a small tree to await the result. It w^ould be 
impossil)le to describe with what feeUngs of hope, doubt, 
anxiety, and fear I awaited the answer to this note, as he 
paced his beat carefully reading it. 

If he consented, I was free ; but if he refused and 
reported me to Captain Semple for attempting to bribe 
him, there -was no telling what would be my punishment ; 
tor attempting to bribe a sentry on duty was no slight . 
offense. The stake for which I was playing was a great 
one, and the hazard was equally great. It was liberty on 
the one hand, and perhaps death on the other. No won- 
der then that the rtionient was an anxious one. 

After carefully reading it, he walked to the farther 
end of his beat and wrote on the back of the note, and 
wrapped 'a stone up in it, and, on his return, when op- 
posite wdiere I sat, after cautiously glancing around, 
tossed it back to me. This act satisfied me that my 
secret was safe, at'least; l)ut when I read his answer, my 
gratitude to this noble friend was greater than I could 
express. He wrote : " I do not want your money; but 
if you will come just as the moon goes down and throw 
a pebble at my feet I w411 leave my l^eat ; but be very 
careful not to make any noise." With a joyful heart I 
hurried to my companions to tell them the good news. 

That was a busy day for me. I bought some flour, 
sweet potatoes and meat, and commenced making biscuit, 
roasting sweet potatoes, and frying meat to fill our haver- 



132 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

sacks. This, with our sh^ht conveiiieDces for cooking, 
was no easy task. I made two dozen biscuits ; and this, 
with our other provisions filled our haversacks, and to- 
gether with our blankets, overcoats, etc., was about all we 
could carry. Having completed our preparations, I w^ent 
to where Col. Miller and Lieut. H. H. Lyman had taken 
up their quarters, which consisted of a dry goods box 
witli one end knocked out, and al>out half long enough to 
cover their bodies. They were l)oth too ill to build a 
brush tent as I had done. I told them that I was going 
to take a walk the next morning, and asked them to move 
into my tent, and if I was brought back I would take it 
back, but if not, then it was theirs, together with the 
mattress, extra blankets, and cooking utensils. 

We then lay down and took a good sleep and rest, 
waiting for the moon to set, which would be at three 
o'clock. 

By that hour we had eaten our breakfast, picked up 
what we intended to carry, and cautiously, one by one, 
gathered under a tree, a few feet from the dead line, 
where, concealed in the shade, we could plainly see my 
friend pacing up and down his beat. When the moon 
had disappeared long enough so that it was quite dark, 
I tossed a pebl^le, which struck right at his feet, at which 
he said in a low tone, "all right" and walked away, and 
commenced talking to the other sentry. 

This was our opportunity, and lying flat on the 
ground, we crawled across the guard line like so many 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 133 

snakes. There were seven of us, viz.: Captains Geere, 
Hock, Eastmond, Hays, and Crafty, and Lieutenant 
Winner and myself. Having all got across, we raised 
up and stole S(jftly away. We had not gone far, how- 
ever, before some one stumbled over some dry brush in the 
darkness, which made considerable noise and attracted 
the attention of one of the guard, who immediately sent 
a bullet in our direction and called out lustily: "Cor- 
poral of the guard, post number fo." This was followed 
l)y other shots ; but they could only shoot in the direc- 
tion of the noise, and if ever seven fellows made good 
time, we did for about half a mile, till we gained a small 
patch of woods. We did not stop here long, but getting 
our direction, we made for another and larger woods 
about three miles away. 

We entered these woods just as it was getting light ; 
and making our way far into its dark recesses, made our 
camp for the day. We could plainly hear the reveille in 
the prison camp, from where we lay that morning, and 
would not have been surprised to have heard the dogs 
on our trail that day. But the dogs had been kept pretty 
l:)usy for the past few days, and were perhaps busy then, 
following some other track. We spread down our 
Idankets and took a nap for an hour or two, and then 
after eating a light lireakfast, commenced perfecting our 
plans for the future. 

We each cut a good, stout hickory staff, and then 
agreed upon our manner of march. Captain Geere, who 



134 IN AND OUT OF REBE PRISONS. 

had escaped once before and been recaptured, was chosen 
leader, and we were to march in single file, about ten 
paces apart, Geere first, Eastmond next, myself third, 
and the others behind. If the leader saw any danger, he 
was to raise his hand as a signal for all to drop down ; 
and if he wanted to consult, he would stop and wait for us 
to come up. 

The moon was full, and shone brightly nearly all night; 
so that when we were in the open road, these signals 
could be plainly seen by the man next behind, who was 
to raise his hand, and so pass the signal back to the rear. 
About ten o'clock that night we started for the road, 
which we had reconnoitered and found during the day. 
We had nearly reached the road, when w^e heard a dog 
l^aying as though on a trail of some kind, and also heard 
the vt)ices of men shouting to him. Making quite a long 
detour, we again approached the road, this time where 
the timber was sparse, and the greensward soft beneath 
our feet. Captain Geere had just reached the middle of 
the road, and Captain Eastmond was near the edge of 
the woods, when suddenly a large white dog, with a loud 
bay attacked Geere. I was near enough to see Geere 
swinging his stick in front of the dog to keep him off, 
and dropped flat down. I saw two armed men come 
up and silence the dog, but waited for no more, and 
stealthily glided away as fast as I could, back into the 
woods. 

The greensward beneath my feet, the barking of the 



y 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 135 

dog, and the loud talking of the men, prevented them 
from hearing me, and I assure you it was not long before 
I was out of their hearing, no matter how much noise I 
had made. I was all alone, and did not know in what 
direction I was running, I only knew I was getting away 
from the sound of that dog. I had run, I should judge, 
about a mile, when I again came to the road and crossed 
it. Soon getting into a swampy piece of ground, I climbed 
over fallen trees, plunged into mud holes, tore through 
brier bushes, and stumbled over stumps, and finally sat 
down, completely out of breath, to listen. 

It was now about 11 o'clock, and there was not a 
sound to l)e heard. After listening some time I again 
started for the road, feeling that I must make the 
balance ot" the tramp alone. I soon found the road, and 
then put in some of the tallest walking I had ever done, 
knowing that every stride I made was a stride towards 
safety. I had walked about five miles, as near as I could 
judge, and had just come to the open country again, 
when from the fence beside the road just behind me, I 
heard my name spoken ; and knowing that no one but 
my comrades would know my name, I at once halted and 
answered. It proved to be Captain Hock and Adjutant 
Winner, who had heard me coming and waited for me. 

We pushed on rapidly, knowing that our safety de- 
pended on the distance we placed between ourselves and 
Columbia that night, and at daylight went into camp in 
a piece of woods about fifteen miles from Columbia. I 



136 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

did .not take any lilanket with me ; l)iit had a good over- 
coat, which we spread on the ground, and covering our- 
selves witli the blankets of Hock and Winner, slept 
soundly until about ten o'clock, when we awoke and took 
our l)reakfast of two biscuits each, and spent the l)alance 
of the day in chatting, smoking, snoozing, etc. About 
half past nine that evening (the 14th) we started on 
again, proceeding cautiously in single file, but we did not 
' make more than twelve miles that night, on account of 
being obliged to make a long detour two or three 
times, to flank some wagons that had camped beside the 
road, on their way to market at Columbia. 

People going to market there are frequently eight or 
ten days on the road, camping like gypsies, wherever 
night overtakes them. They would build a fire beside 
the road, and cook their supper, picket their horses, and 
go to sleep in their covered wagons. 

In these detours, we sometimes came across 
a few sweet potatoes, or some corn in the field, 
which we would gather to roast for our l)reakfast. In 
fact, after the third day, our Ijiscuits were all gone, and 
we had nothing to eat except what we could thus find 
along the road. On the third night out, my legs began 
to pain me, and the next morning they were quite 
swollen and inflamed. This was Sunday, and we camped 
in a pine grove, near a clear brook ; and after breakfast 
I took a good l)ath in the cold water, and felt quite re- 
freshed after it. That night, just after we started, we 




ESCAPED PRISONERS SEARCHING FOR THE ROAD AT NIGHT. 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 139 

found a guide board, and mounting Captain Hock's 
shoulders, I got near enough to read that we were thirty- 
four miles from Columbia, having averaged not quite 
twelve miles a night. 

Being now out of provisions, much of our time was 
spent in looking for sweet potatoes along the road. Some- 
times we would see a nice patch in front of some wayside 
house ; but almost every house had a dog or two, and 
they ever seemed on the alert for tramps ; and it was 
quite a risk to attempt to dig sweet potatoes with those 
dogs making such a racket, and we were often glad 
ent)ugh to get away without l^eing detected, and even with- 
out the desired potatoes. How those dogs would bark ! 
It seemed as though they would arouse the whole 
neighborhood with their eternal yelping. I took a sol- 
emn oath during that journey that if I ever lived to get 
free, I would thereafter shoot every dog I coidd find, 
and I pretty near kept that oath, too. We were not so 
much afraid of their biting us as we were that they 
would be followed by their masters with loaded guns ; 
and often we would make a detour of a mile, rather than 
have attention attracted to us by those yelping curs. 

The fifth night of our tramp was cloudy and dark, 
so much so that the little North Star, that had thus far 
been our guide, as well as the full moon that had lighted 
up our road, was completely hidden from our view, and 
we were left to grope our way as best we could. In the 
darkness we came to where the roads forked, and 



140 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 

although tliere was a guide board, it was in vaiu that I 
tried hy mounting Captain Hock's shoulders and lighting 
matches, to read the directions, to find which road led in 
the right direction. 

After talking the matter over, and consulting our 
little map as well as we could by the aid ofhghted 
matches, we took the road to the right, and although it 
may seem paradoxical, for this once right was wrong. 

We traveled on this road two or three miles, when 
we were satisfied that we should have taken the other 
fork, Init thinking we would come to a road soon that 
bore in the right direction, we kept plodding along in the 
darkness and finally in the rain, and when near daylight 
we went into camp, we only knew we were in the woods 
somewhere in South Carolina, l)ut in what particular por- 
tion of that state we could not tell. Of one thing we 
were satisfied, and that was that we were tired out and 
half starved. We spread our blankets on the wet gromid 
and, with the rain falling in our faces, slept as soundly 
as though our bed was one of down instead of the wet 
ground. 

Awaking al)out 10 o'clock, I started out on a recon- 
noissance, and, after carefully skirmishing around for an 
hour, found that we were near the Sahuhi river, and that 
there was a ferry near by, the river at this point l)eing 
very wide. We did not wish to cross this river, and had 
tried hard to avoid it, ])ut by taking the wrong road at 
tlu^ forks liad run riirht onto it. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 141 

Instead of laying by this day, we started out to try 
to find a road that led in the right direction. AVe found 
some persimmons, which we gathered and ate to satisfy 
our hunger ; l)ut tramped all day in the rain until 4 
o'clock in the afternoon before we found a road that 
seemed to run in the direction we wished to go. When 
we finally came to a road that seemed to point to the 
northwest, we pushed on rapidly for sixteen miles before 
halting, although we were hungry and tired ; and when 
we finally came to another guide board, we found that 
we were only forty-four miles from Columl)ia. This was 
Tuesday, the 18th, and we had left C()luml>ia the morn- 
ing of the 14tb, thus making aii average of only eleven 
miles a day, or rather a night. 

We had nothing to eat but raw corn, which we 
shelled from the cob, and munched as we walked. My 
legs had now became swollen and inflamed to such an ex- 
tent that, had I been at home, I would not have thought I 
could walk a dozen blocks, still we marched sixteen 
miles that night, and the next morning we went into 
camp within the sound of passing cars. That night we 
started out again, l)ut had not gone more than half a mile 
before we again came upon the river. This was dis- 
couraging for, as I have said, we did not wish to cross 
■the river but to go in a parallel direction, and this road 
ended at a ferry. 

There was nothing to do but go back and try to find 
a road that branched off from the one we were just trav- 



142 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

eliiig. The country through wliich we were passing 
was densely wooded, and the weather was cloudy and 
rainv, and, after tramping all day and all the next night, 
we tinally went into camp again ; but where we could 
not tell, except that it was in the woods. We had trav- 
eled hither and thither for thirty-six hours without 
anything to eat. 

After resting and sleeping until al)0ut 11 o'clock in 
the forenoon, we started out again to find a road. We 
found a corn field in which some beans had been planted 
between tlie hills, aud gathered the ears of corn and 
picked some of the l)eans, which we shelled and cooked 
in a tin plate that I had brought along. We were near 
a spring of water, and, l)y placing the tin plate on three 
stones and building a fire with twigs under it, we could, 
by frequently pouring in water from a tin cup, manage 
to keep them from burning until they were soft enough 
to eat. It took a good deal of time and patience to cook 
enough for three in this way ; but by working faithfully 
all day, I cooked enough to make us think we had had 
quite a dinner. 

During the day, Captain Hock in skirmishing around 
the woods came across four or five shoats and an old 
sow feeding on the mits and persimmons, and tried by 
shelling corn to coax them near enough to knock one 
over to cook for rations ; but they were so wild he could 
not get near enough to capture one. He worked a long 
time to gain their confidence ; and they would come 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 143 

witliiii a few feet, and then, with a lond snort, would 
scamper off into the woods again, patiently followed by 
the Captain. Finally, however, he was obliged to give 
up the chase, and the prospects of a good dinner vanished. 

About four o'clock we found a road, and then com- 
pletely tired out, we lay down and slept. It was nearly 
midnight when we started on, and then it was with diffi- 
culty that I could walk at all. My legs gave me such 
pain that it seemed as if they would break off at every 
step. They were swollen to three times their natural 
size and were so inflamed that I thought I would be 
obliged to give up. The agony I suffered that night 
can never be told, but I would not let my comrades halt 
for my sufferings, and they would not go on without me — 
God l)less them ! They would not desert me, but rather 
stay and share my late, wdiatever it might be. I never 
can forget those two noble comrades, who so faithfully 
stood by me, when, by leaving me behind, as I begged of 
them to do, they, who were strong and hearty, could 
have made double the distance I coukl make in my en- 
feebled condition. 

We soon found the railroad, and knowing that it 
would take us to Knoxville, where we were making for, 
we started along the track. Although my sufferings 
were almost unbearable, I trudged along uncomplaining- 
ly, for I would not impede their progress ; and when, 
shortly after, we came in sight of a covered bridge, which 
we thought mit?ht be oruarded, I volunteered to make 



144 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

a recomioissance, for I thought it better for me to be 
re-taken than eitlier of them. 

Fortunately, there was no guard at the bridge, and 
we crossed. Captain Hock was ol)Hged to crawl across 
on his hands and knees for fear of falling, as there was 
nothing but the ties and stringers to cross on and it made 
him dizzy to walk upright. After crossing this bridge, 
we came to a sweet potato patch and tilled our haver- 
sacks so as to have a breakfast. 

Just at daylight that morning, we met a negro going 
to work in a mill ; but, as we were afraid to trust him, 
w^e did not speak except to say " good morning" as we 
passed. This was the first person, black or white, that 
we had met since our escape, and we had then been out 
six days. We went into a piece of woods near by, and 
I cooked sweet potatoes in that tin plate nearly all day 
to satisfy our api^etites. 

We had our camp this day in a small thicket near 
a sweet potato field ; and, knowing that we could lay 
in a good supply after dark, we cooked and ate all we 
wanted of our former supply. It kept me pretty busy 
cooking them in that tin plate, as I was obliged to slice 
them up and then keep adding water as it boiled away ; 
but we managed to make out a good dinner, and then 
lay down and slei)t until nearly dark. We made our 
supper on some of the potatoes that I had roasted in the 
hot embers, so we had a variety that day, boiled sweet 
potatoes for dinner, and sweet potatoes roasted for supper. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 145 

After supper we went into the field, and filled our haver- 
sacks for the next morning's breakfast. It was hard 
digging, as the soil was gravelly, and we had nothing but 
our fingers to dig with. 

If any one thinks that a peck of sweet potatoes is 
not heavy, let him try carrying a peck all night, and walk 
the railroad ties. This, the seventh night, we started 
out early, taking the railroad track, which would take 
us direct ; but it was hard walking, and especially for 
me, as my legs were so swollen and lame. I had been 
obliged on account of my swollen feet and limbs to cut 
off the legs of my cavalry boots, and split down the vamp 
nearly to the toe, to make them more roomy and com- 
fortable, for my stockingless feet. 

I used to tliink during that tramp on the railroad, 
how much better walking it would be, if they wouhl place 
the ties straight across the road bed, and at an equal dis- 
tance apart, say about eighteen inches, instead of putting 
every third or fourth one on a bias. We dis-ciissed this 
thing pretty thoroughly during the time we were en- 
gaged as track-walkers between Columbia and Wallhal- 
la, and came to the conclusion that a reform was neces- 
sary, in this regard. 

We were continually obliged to take one or two 
short steps and then a long one, and if the reader does 
not believe that to be tiresome, let him try it for two or 
three hundred miles, and he will believe that I am right, 
and that I know something about how railroads ought to 



146 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 

be ])uilt for foot passengers. At any rate, I was so com- 
pletely used up hy one o'clock that night that I tried to 
have my comrades go on, and leave me to try to get some 
negro to take care of me until I was able to resume my 
journey. I told them that it was impossible for me to 
proceed ; but they said they would go into camp there, 
and see what success I met with in finding shelter. 

We went into a piece of woods near the railroad 
and in sight of the village of Grreenwood, S. C, at one 
o'clock in the morning, and lay there all day, watching 
for some negro to come along the road, which here ran 
along the railroad. Towards night, I walked out to the 
railroad, and saw a negro coming along on horse back. 
I sat upon the fence with my blue overcoat on, and the 
following dialogue took place: 

'' Hello uncle ! " 

"Howde massa?" 

" Uncle, did you ever see a Yankee?" 

"No sail, I spects I never did." 

''Well, now, take a good look at me and you'll see 
one." 

" Is you a Yankee, massa I" 

"Yes, I am a Yankee, and I want you to help me. 
You know we are going to make the darkies all free. 
We are your friends. I have been a prisoner at Columbia, 
and have escaped to get back North; but I am sick, and 
cannot go any farther until I get better. Now I would 
^ike to go home with you and have you take care of me 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 147 

until I am able to travel again, and I will pay you well 
for your trouble." 

'' Well massa, you see I w^ould like to do it mighty 
well ; l)ut I live six miles back, and there's so many 
chiller bout dare, and all the house servants dey can't 
be trusted. Our oberseer he's a black man, but he do 
any ting massa say. I don't dare trust him, and if dey 
kotch me, dey'd hang me, sure. But ders a collored 
fellah up the road, 'Free Mitchell,' he'll keep you if you 
get dere." 

After making inquiries how to find " Free Mitchell," 
and getting as definite directions as it was possible to 
obtain from a black, which was quite vague, I bid him 
" good bye," after enjoining the strictest secrecy, and re- 
ceiving his most solemn promise not to say a word. I 
went back to my comrades, and reported what I had 
done, and proposed that as soon as it was dark we should 
hunt up this free negro, and try and get help. 

Soon after dark, we all started and walked two 
miles to the little village of Greenwood. Thinking by the 
directions given, that w^e were nearing the house. Hock 
and AVinner lay down in the corner of the fence to wait 
until I could find this place of refuge, and, if possible, 
brina: them something to eat. 



148 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER Xiy. 

ASSAILED BY A DOG— SCARING A NEGRO— FREE MITCHELL— HE DARE NOT LET 
ME INTO HIS YARD ON ACCOUNT OF A YANKEE SCHOOLMASTER WHO KEPT 
BLOOD HOUNDS— FLANKING THE HOUNDS— MEETING CAPTAIN ALBAN— LOS- 
ING MY FORMER COMPANIONS I START OUT WITH HIM. 

I walked part way into town trying not to attract 
attention, when a large dog came bristling up, and acted 
as if lie would like a piece of me ; but liis master, who 
was a negro, gruffly called him back, and just then com- 
ing to the railroad, I turned up the track and walked 
rapidly for half a mile to get out of the village. I soon 
came to the place where the road crossed the railroad, 
and thought I would wait until my companions came uj). 
I had told them that if I was not back in an hour to go 
on and leave me ; for, if nothing happened, I would be 
back within that time with something for them to eat ; 
and if I was not back they might make up their minds 
that I was recaptured, or something had occurred to pre- 
vent me getting l)ack. 

When I parted from them. Captain Hock, with his 
usual thoughtful ness and generosity, took out his pocket 
book and divided the contents with me, saying I might 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PKIS0N8. 149 

need more than he would. I sat down in the shadow of 
a large pme tree that stood close to the road, and, after 
about half an hour, I heard someone approaching from the 
direction of the village ; and thinking it might be my 
companions, I waited until a large negro came up. Just 
as he passed me, I stepped up behind him and touched 
him on the shoulder, at the same time saying, "hello !" 
I think that negro jumped two feet straight up, when I 
thus abruptly saluted him. As soon as he could speak, 
he said, " Grolly, massa, how you sheered me !" 

I asked him where he was going, and he said he 
" done got a pass from de massa to go see his wife, about 
two miles up de road." 

" Well," said I, "then you go past Free Mitchell's, 
don't you ? " 

" No, not zacly ; but I go right near." 

"Well, Uncle," said I, "I am going to Free 
Mitchell's, and if you show me to his house, here is a 
dollar for you." 

" All right, massa; but you walk behind aways, for 
if we meet any one, and dey see me wid a white man, 
dey'll take me back agin, sure." 

So we started on, and after walking about two miles 
came to a small cabin in the woods. My guide went in 
and called out the owner, who proved to be an intelli- 
gent looking mulatto, and who said he was " Free 
Mitchell." 

I told him who I was and who had directed me to 



150 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

him, and asked him if he could keep and feed me for a 
few days, telHng liim that I had plenty of money to jiay 
for the trouble I should cause him. But he said he 
would not dare even to let me in his yard, for he was 
already suspected of secreting fugitives ; and there was a 
Yankee schoolmaster living just beyond, who kept a pack 
of hounds, and hunted around his house every two or 
three days, and if he found any tracks leading into his 
yard they would hang him right quick. He advised me 
not to make any stops until I got safely beyond those 
hounds. He had nothing cooked up to give me a bite to 
eat, so I thought I would start on and get beyond those 
dogs, and try for some safer place. 

Al)out a mile beyond this cabin I saw a house back 
from the road, and a pack of hounds commenced a fear- 
ful baying before I was within a quarter of a mile of the 
premises. Knowing the keenness of scent possessed by 
those brutes, I made a detour of about half a mile, and 
got into a marshy piece of ground covered with alders. 
Through this I tramped some distance, half way to my 
knees in the soft mud, and tearingmyself on the bushes, 
until I finally came out on the road again, out of hearing 
of the dogs. I soon came to a place where the road 
crossed the railroad again and, thinking that my com- 
rades must come on one or the other of these, I sat down 
on a pile of ties beside the track to rest and wait for them. 

It was now nearly midnight and the moon was 
shining bright, while all around was still as death. Just 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 151 

behind me on the railroad was qnite a deep cnt and, 
after waiting some time, I heard some one approaching 
from that direction, their steps on the raikoad ties re- 
sonnding on the still night air with a wonderful distinct- 
ness. Thinking it must be my comrades, as no one else 
would 1)6 likely to be out at that time of night, I sat still 
and waited for them to come up. 

Suddenly, a large powerful looking man emerged 
from the shade of the cut, and was so near before I saw 
him, that I could not have escaped detection if I had 
tried. Thinking to have the first word, I raised up before 
he discovered me, and sung out : 

''Hello!" 

" Good evening," said he, very civilly. 

" Where are you going ? " I asked somewhat 
sternly. 

He hesitated and stammered out, "to Greenville, 
sir." 

" Do you live in Greenville," I asked ? 

" No, sir," said he, " I live in — in Columbia," hesi- 
tatingly. 

" You are a Yankee officer, I believe ! " said I. 

" Well, sir," said he, " there is no use in denying it, 
I am " 

" So am I, old boy," exclaimed I, grasping his hand, 
"put it there." 

If ever two fellows were pleased to find a friend 
when they had both expected to find an enemy, we two 



152 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

were, just then. The hearty hand shaking that followed 
showed that we were mutually pleased to find, that, in- 
stead of running onto an armed reb, we had run across 
an old comrade. We had l)een in prison together in 
Macon, Savannah, Charleston and Columbia, and still 
were strangers to each other. This officer proved to l^e 
Captain H. H. Alban, 21st Ohio Vols., who was taken 
prisoner at Chicamauga. He had two dressed chickens, 
and a quantity of corn bread, that he had just bought in 
Greenwood of a negro. 

He gave me a good sized piece of corn bread, which 
I thought the sweetest morsel I had ever tasted, for I 
had not eaten anything all day, and was half starved. 

I bought one of the chickens for ten dollars. Captain 
Alban excusing himself for taking the money, by saying 
that he had just paid the last dollar he possessed for 
those two chickens and corn bread, and when they were 
gone he would be obliged to forage or starve. 

He urged me to go on with him, promising to carry 
my haversack and do all the buying, taking the risk of 
recapture, if I would furnish the money. I showed him 
my legs, and told him that I would only be a hindrance 
to him, and would wait there until my companions came 
up. 

Finally, after talking the matter over, I agreed that 
if my comrades did not come within an hour, I should 
think they had got ahead of me, and would go on with 
him, for this night at least. We sat there and waited 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 153 

until about one o'clock, and, as they did not come, I 
started on with him, feeling like a new man after the 
good lunch and the rest. Captain Alban, who was a 
large, strong man, six feet high and in rol)ust health, 
took my haversack. This lightened me up a good deal, 
and I was too plucky to let him think I could not keep 
up, and so I stubl)ed along, notwithstanding my swollen 
legs and feet, and that night we put in seventeen miles, 
after I met him, before we went into camp. 




154 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER XV. 

HOW TO ROAST A CHICKEN— A GOOD SQUARE MEAL ONCE MORE— ON THE TRAMP 
AGAIN— WE MEET A DARKEY WHO FURNISHES US SUPPER AND CHICKENS FROM 
HIS MASTER'S HEN COOP— SURPRISED BY TWO WHITE MEN WHILE EATING 
BREAKFAST— PASSING THROUGH WALHALLA— AVOIDING SOME CAVALRY. 

When we made camp on this, the twelfth day of 
my tramp, it was back of a plantation, in a large woods, 
near a spring. We always made our camp near good 
water, if possible. Here I showed the captain how to 
cook a chicken; and for the benefit of camping parties I 
give the receipt here, which, if followed, will, I assure 
them, aiford as fine a dinner as can be made from a 
chicken. 

Bending over a small sappling about two inches 
through at the butt, I fastened the top to the roots of a 
tree, and then trimmed oif the branches. From the 
centre of the bow thus formed, I hung the chicken by 
means of a limb with a hook on the lower end, so that 
the chicken nearly reached the ground. Then building 
a fire in a circle around the fowl, with dry twigs and 
l)ark, as a blacksmith would to heat a wagon tire, I soon 
had a chicken as finely browned as ever w^as cooked in 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 155 

an oven. I salted it as it roasted and within an hour I 
ate the first satisfactory meal I had eaten in eleven days, 
roast chicken and corn bread, with a tin cup full of cold 
water. After a good sleep which lasted until nearly 
dark, I felt like a new man, and only for my swollen and 
inflamed feet and legs, would have felt fit to endure any- 
thing. 

We started out at dark, having made a supper of 
the remains of the chicken and some corn bread, and,^ 
before daylight had made twenty miles, though my legs 
kept getting worse, if possible, and pained me so that at 
times I could scarcely keep from crying out in my agony. 

Captain Alban would not leave me, and encouraged 
me to renewed efforts when I was almost tainting from 
pain. 

It was Saturday night that I met Alban, and on 
Monday we ate the last of our chickens and corn bread, 
and with full stomachs, l)ut empty haversacks, we started 
out at dark again. About nine o'clock, as we were going 
along through a piece of woods, we suddenly came upon 
a negro with a large wooden trunk on his head. He 
was frightened at first l:>ut after finding out that we were 
Yankees, he was about the most delighted darkey I ever 
saw. I told him I would give him twenty dollars if he 
would get me five chickens, and corn l^read enough to 
eat with them. This he promised to do, and told us to 
wait there until he toted the trunk over to his old gran- 
nies, and when he came back he would whistle, to let us 



156 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 

know it was him, and when we answered the whistle, he 
would take us to the house and give us some supper. 
He was soon back and we went with him to the edge ot 
the woods, near the shanty, when he again left us to 
make sure that everything was all right. It w^as not long 
before we again heard the low, musical whistle, which I 
answered, and he came up with two other negroes and 
took us to a cabin, where a good tire was burning and 
an old black woman was cooking some bacon and corn 
bread, or hoe cake, as they call it. While auntie was 
getting our supper prepared, the three men went out to 
see about the chickens. 

It was not long before they were back, and had five 
nice fat fowl, which they proceeded at once to dress for 
us, and by the time we had finished our supper, which 
we greatly relished, the fowl were ready, the feathers 
burned, and the floor carefully swept, so that every trace 
of the transaction was removed. I had a silver quarter 
in my pocket which I gave to aunty, and which she re- 
ceived with profuse expressions of joy and gratitude. 
We staid with them until eleven o'clock, and although 
we only walked eleven miles after that, I was completely 
used up the next morning when we went into camp 
again. I cooked three of the chickens that day, and we 
eat one for dinner and one for supper. 

That night w^e w^alked twenty miles on the rail- 
road, crossing four long iron covered bridges, and went 
into camp in a large piece of woods some distance back 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 15T 

from the railroad, as daylight again warned us to seek 
shelter. 

About eight o'clock we made a fire and were roasting 
our last chicken, making our breakfast in the meantime, 
on the one left from the night before. I had laid aside 
my overcoat, and was therefore in the full dress of a 
cavalry lieutenant, shoulder straps and all, and we were 
chatting over our breakfast, when I heard the brush 
crackle close by, and looking up we saw two white men 
within a few rods of us ; one dressed in the homespun 
usually worn by citizens in the south, and the other 
wearing the uniform of a Confederate soldier. 

I just had time to say to Alban, they are unarmed 
and I can handle one if you can the other, when they 
came up to where we were sitting. They both seemed 
a little embarrassed, and the situation was slightly em- 
barrassing to us. 

After the usual salutation, the elder of the two said, 
somewhat apologetically : " We saw the smoke out here, 
and thought some one had built a fire while possum 
hunting last night, and was afraid it might get into our 
fence, which is just through yonder thicket." 

We assured him that we would put the fire out 
carefully when we went away, which we would do as 
soon as our chicken was done. I was well aware that 
they must know we were Yankees, and feared that our 
tramp was over for the present, but anything was better 
than suspense, and rising to my feet I said to the old man 



158 IN AND OUT OF KEBEI IRISONS. 

\\'bo stood near me : " Well, sir, I suppose you know 
that we are Yankees ; now, what do you propose to do 
with us 1 " 

"Yes," said he, "I know you are Yankees, but you 
need have no fear of us, we are Union men." 

"How is it, then, that this young man wears the 
Confederate uniform 1 " 

" Well, sir, to save being conscripted and sent to 
the field, he joined a company of home guard, who are 
nearly all Union men, and by doing so is kept about 
here." 

I well knew he was telling the truth, and I grasped 
his hand and shook it heartily, and while we all sat 
around the fire, I told them of our imprisonment and 
escape, and of our long tramp for freedom. They told 
us their names were John Addis and William Addis, 
father and son, and that the}' would do anything they 
could to assist us. 

They went to the house and had some wheat l)is- 
cuit baked, and some sweet potatoes roasted for us, the 
young man promising that if his mother would consent, 
he would go with us to our lines ; but she was so fearful 
tluxt he would be captured and shot as a deserter, that 
she would not listen to the proposition for a moment, but 
sent l)y him a hearty God-speed to us. 

Mr. Addis directed us to his brother in Towns 
County, Georgia, and said that he had heard, that the 
Union forces were in that county a few days before, and 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 159 

it would he perfectly safe for us to travel in the day time, 
passing ourselves for Confederate soldiers on furloughs. 

He said that at Walhalla, thirteen miles ahead, 
they were very vigilant, and at Tunnel Hill, (nineteen 
miles) there was a picket station, at a gap in the moun- 
tain, which it would be necessary for us to flank. He 
gave us the name of the captain of a company of youths 
who guarded this pass, which I carefully noted, and in- 
structed us as well as he could, how to get around this 
gap. The young man went with us about two miles, to 
get us past the depot without being noticed, and then 
bade us good bye, saying that he would like to accom- 
pany us north if he could. We started on, feeling much 
encouraged, expecting to get beyond the picket at Tunnel 
Hill before dayBght. But it soon commenced raining 
fearfully, and the walking was slippery, which made it 
intensely painful to my poor inflamed limbs, and chafed 
the skin off my stockingless feet, as they slipped up and 
down in legless boots. 

I stood it as long as I could, but at twelve o'clock I 
was obliged to give up, and drenched to the skin, we 
lay down under a pine tree beside the road, and covering 
ourselves with a wet blanket, with my overcoat for a bed, 
and the rain beating in our faces, we slept the sound re- 
freshing sleep of tired soldiers. We awoke just before 
daylight, wet, cold and stiff, and started on towards 
Walhalla, which was about a mile ahead. I thought the 
one street that passed through that little hamlet, was the 



160 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

longest I ever saw. It was daylight when we entered 
the town, and the early risers were stirring, but they were 
all negroes. We walked rapidly, but it seemed as though 
we would never get through the village and gain the 
woods beyond. And finally seeing some covered wagons 
just at the further edge of the town, with the owners 
cooking their breakfast, we concluded to make a flank 
movement to the right, as though we were going to work 
in the woods. We gained the woods in safety, and cross- 
ing the road, went in a considerable distance, and sat 
down on a fallen tree, ate our breakfast and rested for 
about an hour. 

As it was still raining and very cloudy, we con- 
cluded to go on, and try and flank the picketpost at Tunnel 
Hill before night, thinking they would not be as watch- 
ful during the day. We kept in sight of the road, and 
hearing some mounted men coming, we hid until tliey 
passed. We could plainly hear them talking, and con- 
cluded that it was the rehef, going up to change the 
guard. Going on, we kept the road in sight, until we 
came to a plantation, which we thought best to go around, 
keeping in the edge of the woods thatskirted it. It was 
a long detour^ and when we tried to come out on the 
road again, we could not find it. There was a path in 
the woods, leading up quite a steep looking hill. It 
seemed to be well traveled, and thinking we could go 
over this hill and probably come out on the road, we 
followed this path in a circuitous way for nearly a mile, 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 161 

when we came to the top of a ridge, that seemed about 
ten rods wide, and densely covered with large timber. 
Looking down on either side, we could see through the 
clouds and fog, a valley of wooded land on one side, 
and clear land on the other. We walked alongthis ridge 
all day, and as the sun was completely obscured, we 
could not tell in what direction we were moving. We 
examined the moss on the trees, but sometimes it would 
be on one side, and then on the other. About five o'clock, 
our p'ath led down the mountain, and in half an hour 
more, we were surprised to find, that although we had 
followed the path all day, we had come out just where 
we went up in the morning. We learned after, that this 
was Cheat mountain, and is a high ridge shaped like a 
bowl, with a valley in the center, and we had walked 
around the crest all day, making nearly ten miles. It 
was now about sundown^ and reconnoitering in different 
directions, we finally found the road again, and laying 
down in some weeds, waited for darkness. 




162 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

BACK INTO WALHALLA— WE RUN INTO A REBEL PICKET IN THE DARK AUD ARE 
TAKEN IN— A LITTLE JUDICIOUS LIEING SECURES OUR RELEASE— OVERTAK- 
ING SOME WAGONS GOING FROM MARKET— CHATTING WITH A COMPANY OF 
REBEL CAVALRY. 

Starting out again at dark, we walked on rapidly 
for about five miles, when we came to some covered 
wagons beside the road, and just after passing them, I 
said to Alban, ^'I believe this is Walhalla again." He 
thought it impossible; so said I, "we won't go far be- 
fore we come to a carpenter shop, with a bench outside." 
Sure enough, we soon came to the carpenter shop that I 
liad noticed as we passed hastily through the town that 
morning. Turning about we walked back, and soon 
found how we had made the mistake in the darkness. 
Near where these wagons were camped, there was a fork 
in the road ; we had taken the right hand fork in the 
morning, and turned into the woods to the left of the road. 
Tlie road we had found at night, was the other branch of 
the fork and turning to the left again, we had walked 
directly back to where we started from in the morning. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 163 

It was now nine o'clock, and again taking the right hand 
road, we started back towards Tunnel Hill. 

There were mile hoards on this road, that told the 
distance, and as we had been told it was six miles to 
Tunnel Hill, we walked along briskly for nearly four 
miles, when all of a sudden there rang out clear and 
distinct that well known challenge : " Halt ! Who comes 
there ?" 

The voice was not five rods ahead, and through the 
darkness we could discern the outline of the sentry, and 
just beyond a dim tire of dying embers. 

" Soldiers ! " was the prompt reply to the challenge 
hy Captain Alban. ''Have you got any showance ! " 
(pass.) " Yes, sir," he answered. ''Well, come in and 
let's see it." Alban was about twenty yards ahead of ' 
me, and as I had not yet spoken, I thought perhaps I 
might not have been seen, and as he approached the 
sentry, I crouched down, preparatory to sliding into the 
woods. But the guard saw me, and asked if that was 
another soldier behind, and upon being answered in the 
affirmative, told me to come in too. I said I didn't think 
he would allow us l)oth to approach at once ; that we 
never would at the front allow but one to approach at a 
time. 

"Oh, we've got force enough to take care of both of 
youans," said he. So we walked in, and he took us up 
to the smoldering fire, where six or eight others were 
sitting and lying around, and speaking to some one whom 



164 IN AND OUT OF KEBE PRISONS. 

he called Dock, told him to get up and look at our 
" showaiice." Wliile Dock was crawlmg out, pulling 
on his l^oots, and rubbing his eyes, the guard asked what 
command we belonged to. We told them that we be- 
longed to the 32d Georgia. (This was the regiment that 
was guarding Yankee prisoners at Columbia.) That we 
were stationed at Columliia, guarding Yankee prisoners ; 
that we had just come to Walhalla by the train, and 
thought we would walk as far as Tunnel Hill, and stay 
there all night, and see the Captain, (giving his name,) 
who was an old friend of mine, tliat I had not seen since 
tlie war broke out, and I wanted to have a visit with 
him. That we were going to Towns County, Georgia, 
where my sister (giving a ficticious name), who was 
All)an's wife, lived ; that I had a sick furlough for thirty 
days, and Alban had a' pass for ten days, to go and see 
his wife. We mentioned two or three names that had 
been furnished us by Mr. Addis, and asked if they knew 
them. 

By the time " Dock" was ready to examine our 
papers, we had got them thoroughly interested in us, and 
had so thoroughly impressed upon them the belief that 
we were all right, and then I showed them my legs which 
were so terribly inflamed, and told them that I \vas suf- 
fering from inflammatory rheumatism, — which was the 
nearest the truth of anything that I had yet told them — 
and groaned over the excruciating pain I was suffering. 
When I had fully impressed them with the truthfulness 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 165 

of mj story, I took from my pocket an enlistment paper 
that I had, and produced it as my furlough, I told them 
that I bought that overcoat of a Yankee for five plugs of 
tobacco, and got the pants for two plugs ; that you could 
buy any thing of those Yankee prisoners for tobacco ; 
They would sell the shirt off their back for tobacco. 
Finally ''Dock" took my furlough, and as it was raining 
hard, and the fire would not burn, he got down on his 
knees lieside it, and would blow up a little blaze, and try 
to make out the papers ; but could only see that it was 
a printed and written document of some kind. At the 
same time I was groaning over my suffering legs, and 
rubbing them, and wishing I was at the captain's quarters, 
where I could rest and care for them. After "Dock" 
had tried in vain for sometime to make out my furlough, 
I said it was too bad to keep me there in the rain where 
I was sure to take cold in my legs ; that the Captain 
could examine the papers in the morning, and see that 
they were all right. So he finally said, well I reckon 
you are all right, you can go ahead. If you\vant to go 
to Clayton it is the nearest way to take the left fork, but 
if you want to go to Tunnel Hill take the right. We 
passed on a few yards to the forks, and not wishing to 
let them see how anxious we were to get away, we 
stopped and discussed the question whether we would 
go on to Tunnel Hill, or turn towards Clayton. 

We finally turned towards Clayton, as we had all the 
time intended, and when we sot out of sight and hear- 



166 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

ing of the picket post, we just lay down and rolled and 
laughed. Up to the time that " Dock" told us we could 
go on, we had scarcely the slightest idea that they would 
not detect the fraud, and march us off under guard to 
headquarters. Sick and lame as I was, I could not re- 
strain my laughter at this adventure, for hours after. 

We hurried forward however, for fear the officer of 
the guard might be making his rounds, and learning of 
our passing the picket, follow us up to ascertain that we 
were all right. About one o'clock we halted, completely 
tired out with our almost incessant march of nearly forty- 
eight hours, in the mud and rain, with little to eat, and 
as wet as we were, we lay down in a thicket beside the 
road, and slept soundly until daylight. When we awoke, 
we were wet through and completely chilled, and started 
on to try and get warm. We soon came to a river which 
we were obliged to ford, the water being nearly up to 
our waist, but as we were already as wet as we could be, 
it did not make much difference whether we were in the 
water or on dry land. 

We soon came u])on some teams that were camped 
beside the road, being on their way back from Walhalla 
to Cherokee County, North Carolina. There were two 
rebel soldiers acting as guard for the teams, and the 
owner was a Doctor Washburn, formerly from Livingston 
County, N. Y., as he informed me. They were cooking 
their breakfast, but did not say anything about our tak- 
ing breakfast with them. .They, however, directed us to 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 167 

the house of a widow, a Uttle farther on, where we coiihl 
be accommodated. We stopped there, and she got us up 
a nice breakfast of corn bread, sweet potatoes and fried 
mutton, and I guess she thought hy the way we eat that 
we had not had anything before m some days, and did 
not know when we would get anything again. This 
widow .was quite bitter towards the Confederacy on ac- 
count of her son having l)een conscripted, and she left 
alone, with no one to work her little farm or care for her 
children. She was too poor to hire the work done, and 
was obliged to do all that was done towards supporting 
herself and children ; as her son's pay scarcely amounted 
to enough to keep him in tobacco, and left nothing 
towards the support of his mother and a family of small 
children. Having eaten and paid for our breakfast, we 
waited for the teams to come along, and then we con- 
cluded to travel with them, as it would give us the ap- 
])eanince of being all right, if we should meet any 
soldiers on the road. 

We soon made ourselves at home in their company 
and J found Dr. Washburn a very kind-hearted gentle- 
man, and I think that he more than half suspected our 
true characters, though he did not pretend to doubt that 
we were Confederate soldiers, belonging to the 32d 
Georgia. He oiFered to loan me all the money I needed, 
which, as he was a perfect stranger, seemed to me pretty 
good evidence that he knew I was an escaped prisoner 
and wanted to help me to get home. He inquired 



168 ' IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

whether there were any prisoners at Columbia who were 
from Livingston County, N. Y., which he said was his 
native place ; and I said I didn't know where lany of 
them were from, except I had heard Captain Cady say 
that he was from Rochester, N. Y., l)ut I did not know 
what part of the North that was. I was more than once 
on the point of revealing myself to him, and now believe 
that had I done so, he would have assisted me. We 
traveled in company with them two days, and it was 
quite a help, to me especially. 

The teams were so heavily loaded that I could npt 
ride much, but on down grades and at the ditferent 
fords we came to, he asked me to get on and rest up a 
little, which offer I gladly accepted, crossing the Cha- 
tuga river on the back of one of the mules. Dr. 
Washburn had a Columbia paperj which gave the par- 
ticulars of Sheridan's famous fight with Early in the Val- 
ley. When they went into camp the first night, Alban 
and I went into a barn near hy, and slept until morning. 
Having travelled until ten o'clock and forded three 
streams, we were very tired and slept soundl}^ The 
next day we started on ahead of them, but they overtook 
us before night ; as they halted early, however, we kept 
on and were overtaken by a man on horseback who told 
us he lived about five miles further on, and if we got 
that far, we were welcome to stay over night with him. 
We found liis house about dark, and he gave us a good 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 169 

supper and a good drink of apple-jack, whicli he fished 
out from under the lied. 

Alban would not drink any, and tried liy winks and 
sly nudges, to keep me from accepting a second invita- 
tion, but I didn't take the hint worth a cent. Mr. King 
(for that was his name) was running an ilhcit distillery 
near where we first met him.» 

After we had taken two or three drinks, he became 
talkative, and 1 tliink my tongue was a httle loose. He 
did not go a cent on the Confederacy, and thought the 
whole thing was about gone up ; and he didn't care much 
how soon it collapsed. If he was in my place, he would 
not go back into the Confederate army and I told him 
that I did not intend to. Before we went to bed, we 
were on pretty good terms with one another and the 
world in general, with the exception of the Confederate 
government. He hved near the bank of the Teroria 
river, and before breakfast we went down to the river, 
and cold as it was that morning, stripped oft' and took a 
good bath. When we went back to the house, he again 
fished out the demijohn from under the lied, and we took 
a good one for an appetizer. Alban was fidgety and ner- 
vous, for fear my tongue would run away with me, but 
I was as jolly as a lord, and as wary as a member of 
Congress. 

After a good breakfast, for which he would take no 
pay, we crossed the Teroria river and pushed on Iniskly. 



170 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

I felt just in Immor for any adventure, and one soon pre- 
sented itself 

We had not gone far when we saw a company of 
reb cavalry coming towards us from ahead. We sat 
down on a log beside the road and waited for them to 
come up, as there were no woods to slip into just there. 
When they came along I saluted the Captain and asked, 
" Whar youans going. Captain ? " "Oh, just going up 
the road a piece," he answered, and passed on without 
questioning us. 

One of the men at the rear of the column stopped 
long enough to ask us where we'uns were from, and I 
told him we had just come from the valley and had had 
some right smart fighting with Sheridan. I then hastily 
detailed the fight as I had read it in the Columbia paper. 
He seemed flattered with the fact that he had talked 
with two old soldiers who had been with Earley (for 
they were home guards), and rode l)riskly forward to 
overtake his comrades. 

We soon came to Clayton, Georgia, and the court 
being in session, there was quite a crowd gathered about 
the court house. We were debating whether or not it 
would be safe to keep the road, which led directly past 
the court house, when a mounted officer, who had evi- 
dently found some applejack somewhere, came riding 
down to meet us, and when he learned from us that we 
belonged to the 32d Georgia, and had just come from 
Earley's army, wanted the latest news. We told him 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 171 

that we had had a right smart fight with Sheridan, and 
taken liis camp, with all of the stores and a nnmber of 
l^ieces of artillery, bnt that while the boys were plnnder- 
ing the camp, Sheridan had surprised us and cut us all 
up. Having filled him as chock full of news as he was 
of applejack, we told him we were going to Hiawassee, 
and asked the most direct road. 

He directed us across a common, that would take 
us to the road leading to Hiawassee, that would not 
necessitate our passing the court house, and rode back 
to retail the news we had given him. 

After passing Clayton two or three miles, we stopped 
at a farm house to get dinner. As we sat down at the 
table, the host introduced us to the sheriff of Ra1)un 
county. We chatted pleasantly with him during the 
meal, but felt greatly relieved when we were once more 
on the road. ^ 

The next day (Sunday) we struck the Hiawassee 
river, and fording it, we pushed on, and just about sun- 
down, came to a house that seemed to promise good 
fare, and, representing ourselves to be Confederate sol- 
diers on a furlough, asked for supper and lodging. 

The gentleman, who had the appearance of a 
wealthy planter, hesitated, but when I told him we 
wished to pay for the accommodation, he said he 
reckoned they could keep us, and invited us in. The 
family consisted of the planter — Major Carter — his wife^ 
and one daughter, and a lady teacher, who seemed to be 



172 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

of Northern birth. After supper the conversation 
naturally turned on the war, and we discussed the situa- 
tion freely, and finding that he was a rank reb, we were, 
of course, in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war 
as long as there was a soldier left to fight or a dollar in 
the treasury. We got on swimmingly for a time. Major 
Carter was a man of intelligence, and was thoroughly 
posted on the situation, as well as the position of the two 
armies. In fact, I began to fear that he was too well 
posted to make it safe for me to attempt to tell too much 
of where I had served, and it soon became convenient 
for my inflamed legs to pain me so much that his good 
wife had one of the colored servants l)ring me some warm 
water out on the stoop to bathe them in. 

This brought the conversation, which was getting a 
little too deep for me, to a close; and I asked to be 
shown to my room, after offering him a ten-dollar bill 
to take out for our supper and lodging. I told him we 
should probably wish to start before he was up and 
so preferred to pay that night. The fact was, I did not 
wish to meet him the next morning, after he had taken 
time to think over the matter, for I was quite sure his 
suspicions had been partially aroused. He would have 
taken two dollars, Init could not change the ten, and I 
lold him I would call on my way back and pay him. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 173 



CHAPTER XVII. 

AT MAJOR CARTERS— MY SWOLLEN LIMBS GIVE ME AN EXCUSE TO CUT OFF 
THE CONVERSATION— REV, MR. BURCH GIVES US A HEARTY WELCOME AND 
A GOOD BREAKFAST— PASSING A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER— RECAPTURED— 
ECCENTRIC BUT LOYAL TOM HUBBARD— TAKEN BACK TO FORT EMORY. 

Having partaken of a good hearty supper, we were 
given a room, and, for the first time in many months, I 
enjoyed the luxury of a goodfeather bed. Oh, how grate- 
fully my poor tired limbs revelled in its downy recesses. 
It seemed almost too bad, to soil those snowy sheets with 
our dusty and travel stained clothing. Weary and tired 
as we were however, we soon forgot all our troubles,, 
and were revelling in sweet dreams of home and loved 
ones. 

We w^ere awake bright and early next morning, and 
hastily dressing, we quietly left the house before any of 
the other inmates were awake. 

This was Monday, the eighteenth day of our tramp, 
and we had passed through South Carolina and Georgia, 
and were near the extreme north-west corner of North 
Carolina. 



174 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

We walked aliout two miles, when we came to the 
house of the Rev. Mr. Biirch, He had been milking and 
was just going to the house with a pail of milk when we 
came up and asked if we could get some breakfast ther«. 
He gave us a hearty welcome to such fare as they could 
give us, and invited us into the house. We soon dis- 
covered that he was a strong Union man, and, although 
we did not reveal ourselves to him as Yankees, I believe 
he at least mistrusted we were. We learned from him 
that the Union forces had been at Murphy, and when 
we got across the river from there we would be in Ten- 
nessee, where we would be safe, as our forces held the 
ground there. We had told him that we did not intend 
to go back into the army, but intended to get inside the 
Union lines and stay there. 

I being a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, gave him some signs of that order, which he 
thought was a clumsily given Masonic sign, and, as he 
l)elonged to that fraternity, he tried to test me in the 
signs of that society. I told him I was not a Mason, but 
was an Odd Fellow, and he could trust me just as freely 
as though we both belonged to the same order. He said : 
" I do trust you, and believe you are all right, but when 
we express Union sentiments in this section of the country, 
you know, we do so with a halter around our necks. I 
have already said and done enough to hang me if it were 
known to the rebel authorities, and T know they would 
resort to any trick to trap me into saying or doing 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 175 

something that would convict me of treason to the Con- 
federacy. But I will trust you, though I place my life in 
your hands b}' so doing, for God and my own conscience 
tell me that I am doing right." 

He then gave us explicit directions about getting 
across the river, near Murphy, which was about twenty 
miles further. He said it w^ould not do to cross the 
bridge at that place, as it was guarded night and day ; 
but w^e could probably find boats above there that we 
could use in crossing. After breakfast he walked with 
us a short distance, and bidding us an affectionate good- 
bye and God speed, he turned back and we pursued our 
way. 

About three miles further on we passed the little 
hamlet of Fort Emory, where I noticed a Confederate 
ofbcer sitting on the stoop of the only store in the vil- 
lage. Passing by with a nod and a good morning, we 
were soon out of sight, and as we felt a little uneasy 
after this, we walked as rapidly as it was possible in my 
enfeebled condition. 

The country through which we were passing now 
was mostly woods and sparsely settled. In fact, I think 
we did not pass but two or three houses in the next ten 
miles. At that distance from Fort Emory we came to 
a large house that looked as though it belonged to a well- 
to-do planter, and seeing the owner out near the road we 
stopped and asked if we could get some supper. We had 
as yet said nothing al)out paying, and he put on a long 



176 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

lace when he tohl us that he had nothing cooked in the 
house. He was a miserly looking old seed, and thinking 
a little money might tempt him, I said that we were not 
particular what it was, hut would pay him for any kind 
of a " snack," if he could manage to give us something 
thnt would stay our stomachs until we got to Murphy. 

Mr. Harshaw — for that was his name — thought he 
might find something if we would wait awhile, till he 
could go into the house. While we were yet talking two 
mounted, armed men, came suddenly around a bend in 
the road, and galloped down to where we were standing, 
each with a drawn pistol, and a carl)ine slung over his^ 
shoukler. Dick Hancock the Sergeant, asked, to what 
command do you belong? 32d Georgia I answered. 
Where are you going? To Murphy to see my sister; 
giving him a ficticious name. Let me see your pass said 
he. I felt in my pocket and said, by golly Alban I left 
those passes in my haversack at Maj. Carters ; and then 
turning to the Sergeant, 1 explained that we staid at the 
Major's last night, and as we intended to go back to- 
morrow or the next day, we thought we would leave the 
haversack which was pretty heavy, and our passes were 
ill the haversack. 

You can consider yourselves under arrest, said the 
Sergeant; and told his companion, l^jm Hubbard, to 
dismount and search us. Tom was a very excitable per- 
son, and had a halfit of spitting about sixty times a min- 
ute. He first took a large Morocco pocketljook that I 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 177 

carried in the breast pocket of my coat, and looking over 
the papers, came across my recruiting authorization 
paper, which I had received from the Governor, author- 
izing me to recruit volunteers, for the service of the 
United States. Tom read this aloud, spitting between 
each sentence. He read along until he came to the 
clause above spoken of, when he stopped suddenly and 
said: "You are a Yankee otHcer, by thunder!" I 
laughed and said: "Well, a Yankee could not guess bet- 
ter than that." 

" Well, you are, by jingo," 

"Well, who said I wasn't ? " 

Tom got terribly excited, and spit faster than ever, 
as he said : "Well, l^y thunder, you are a Yankee." 

I should have laughed if he had Ijeen going to shoot 
me, and I did laugh heartily at his excitement. This 
made him more excited still, and by the time he had 
finished reading the paper, he was so excited that I 
could easily have disarmed him, but the Sergeant sat 
there, with his pistol ready to shoot if we made any at- 
tempt to get away. 

I then told them that we were Yankee officers, and 
that we had for six months suffered the horrors of prison 
life, that we had escaped from Colunibia, and had 
walked three hundred miles to gain our liberty, and 
pulling up my pants I showed them my legs, which were 
swollen to three times their natural size, and very much 
inflamed, and asked if, after having tramped so far with 



ITS IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

such a pair of legs, I was not entitled to my liberty. 
The tears started into Tom's eyes, his mouth twitched 
convulsively, he spit with tearful' rapidity, and he finally 
said in a choking voice, " By thunder, I am sorry I ever 
saw you," 

If I had my way I would let you go, but if we did 
old Harshaw, who is a bitter Confederate, would report 
us and we would be shot. And Tom meant what he said; 
for as will appear further on, he was a Union man at 
heart. But the Sergeant was unmoved by our distress, 
and was only too proud to think he had captured two 
Yankee officers, to contemplate letting us go ; so he 
ordered us to walk between them back to Fort Emory, 
ten miles. No Sergeant, I said, I am your prisoner, 
only because my legs gave out ; and I shall never walk 
back. If you want me to go back to Fort Emory, you 
will have to carry me, for if I could have walked you 
would not have seen me. He insisted that I start on, 
but I told him plainly that I would not walk a step, that 
I had just about as leave he would shoot me right there 
as to take me back into prison. 

Tom finally said, Dick, you take him up behind you, 
and I will take this big fellow up behind me, and we will 
get along much faster. To this proposition the Sergeant 
consented, and we both mounted and started back. If I 
could have had a chance to have said a dozen words to 
Alban before starting, without their seeing us, we would 
not have gone far; but the Sergeant and I rode ahead, 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 179 

followed by Tom and Albaii, and if I had made a move 
to disarm my man, Tom would have been just in a posi- 
tion to have helped him. I was on the alert, thinking 
that perhaps Alban would pinion Tom's arms from be- 
hind, and give me a signal to do the same for the Ser- 
geant, which I could have easily done. 

If I had only known what was going on behind me 
that night, this narrative would have a ditierent termina- 
tion. But I did not know Tom Hubbard then, nor did 
I know how strongly he was attached to the old flag. I 
learned all this afterwards, and learned to appreciate 
him, for a true-hearted, loyal man, whose fidelity could 
always be relied upon, and whose sympathetic nature 
was as tender as a woman's. The circumstances which 
surrounded him, compelled him to assume an allegiance 
to the Confederacy that his loyal soul revolted at. And 
there is no man North or South that I would give more 
to see to-day than this same eccentric Tom Hubbard. 




180 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

IN PRISON AGAIN. 

We arrived at the bouse of Captain Sanderson 
about ten o'clock that nigbt, and were treated by him 
like gentlemen. Late as it was, after placing us in an 
out-house, in which was a weaver's loom, he l)rought us 
a good lunch, and gave us every possible privilege he 
coukl. 

We were strictly guarded, but were made to feel 
our captivity as little as possible. 

We were allowed to go down to a stream near the 
house the next day, and wash our clothes, which we had 
worn nearly a month, and the captain, in everyway, treated 
us more like guests than prisoners. 

Captain Sanderson was in command of a company 
of home guards, and had never seen active service. He 
was a well-to-do farmer, and most of his command were 
his neighbor's sons, who, like himself, did not care to go 
into the regular service, and most of them were strongly 
tinctured with Union sentiments. 1 don't think he was 
a very bitter Confederate himself 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 181 

The next afternoon, after having washed and dried 
our clothes and took a good bath in the stream near by, 
we were started under guard for Franklin. We walked 
about three miles, when we stopped at the house of a 
Union man named Johnson, and whose son had joined 
Captain Sanderson's company of home guards to save 
conscription, and who was detailed as one of our guard. 

They filled our haversacks with choice fruit, and 
Captain Lyons, of the 1st Greorgia Regiment, whom we 
met there, loaned me a horse to ride. . Our guard the 
-first day was Lieutenant R. N. Leatherwood, Sergeant 
Dick Hancock, and D. J. Johnson. We found by talk- 
ing to Mr. Johnson that he was a Union man, and that 
Captain Lyons, who had so kindly loaned me his horse, 
was one also, but they dare not show it. We only went 
three miles the first afternoon, and the next morning 
Tom Hubbard overtook us, leading a mule for me to 
ride, as I had only borrowed Captain Lyons's horse for 
the first afternoon. Tom Hubbard soon found an oppor- 
tunity to tell me, that his brother and a Captain Tidwell 
w^ere going to try to assist us to escape. This Captain 
Tidwell was in command of another company of home 
guards, and we had not gone far on this second day of 
our march, before he met us as if by chance, and we 
halted, and after chatting a few minutes, Tom asked him 
to ride along with us. 

He had a canteen of applejack, and invited all 
hands to take a drink. This we all did, though Captain 



1S2 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

Alban and I drank very sparingly. The canteen was 
passed quite often, and though we all seemed jolly, I 
noticed that it held out pretty well, and concluded that 
they were all trying to get the rest drunk, without get- 
ting drunk themselves. What we wanted was, to get 
enough of this apple brandy down Lieutenant Leather- 
wood and Sergeant Dick Hancock, to affect them, and 
then make a break ; but it did not work. They pre- 
tended to drink, but were as wary as ever, and were evi- 
dently onto our little game. 

We were a noisy crowd that passed along that road 
through the woods that day, we sung, shouted, laughed 
and swaggered, but that canteen still held out. Finally as 
we were passing a spur of the Nantahala mountains, we 
saw some mules feeding upon the mountain to our left and 
rear, and as all were mounted except Captain Alban, it 
was suggested that the Lieutenant and Sergeant try to 
catch one of the mules for him, so we could get along a 
little faster. 

The Sergeant gave Captain Tidwell his revolver, to 
guard us while he was gone, and they started up the 
mountain in pursuit of the mules. When they had got 
half way up. Captain Tidwell told us to run into the 
woods and up a ravine that separated the two spurs, and 
he would fire his revolver towards us, to make believe 
he was trying to shoot us, but would be careful not to 
hit either of us. We had never seen him until an hour 
previous, and of course did not know but this was only 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 183 

a dodge to give him an excuse for shooting a Yankee, 
but we took the risk, and started into the woods. 

He shouted halt ! halt ! ! and fired three shots in quick 
succession; the bullets sounded uncomfortably near our 
heads, but we kept on. My legs were stiif and cramped 
from riding, and I made very poor headway. I threw 
off my overcoat and haversack to lighten me, 1)ut it 
seemed as though I was in a nightmare ; and though I 
strained every nerve to make the utmost speed, I seemed 
to be moving at a snail pace. Alban, who had been walk- 
ing, and was strong and roljust, outstripped me and was 
gaining at every step. I was perspiring at every pore, 
and my breath was short and hot, but still I did not seem 
to get ahead much. I was just thinking I would soon 
be out of sight, when I lieard Lieutenant Leatherwood's 
voice close behind me, saying, hold on Lieutenant, I don't 
want to shoot you ; and looking over my shoulder, saw 
him within five rods of me, with his revolver pointed at 
my head. 

Seeing that any further eftbrt at flight would only 
result in my getting the contents of that revolver, and 
not hankering after anything of that kind, as I was near 
enough dead already, I stopped and went quietly back, 
Alban, who was five or six rods ahead of me, doing like- 
wise. 

(^ne of the bullets from Captain Tidwell's revolver 
had struck a rock near me, and a piece of the bullet hit 
me just under my right eye, thus saving his reputation 



184 IN AXD OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

as a marksman, and giving color to his intentions to shoot 
me. 

As we slowly made onr way back to the road, I 
picked up my traps that I had discarded in my flight, 
and laughingly told the boys that I only came back l)e- 
cause it was so much more pleasant to ride than go on 
foot. Dick Hancock, the Sergeant, however, did not 
seem to relish the joke, and, demanding his revolver of 
Captain Tidwell, said he would shoot the d — d Yankees 
anyhow. 

Captain Tidwell told him that he wouldn't shoot 
any one who was a prisoner, that if there was any shoot- 
ing going on, he would have a hand in. Dick swaggered 
considerable, l>ut I finally told him that if he really 
wanted to shoot some one, he had better go to the front, 
where he would find lots of it to do. Said I, (for I was 
then satisfied that in case of a row the chances were in 
our llivor) "I want you to understand now, that while 
I am a prisoner in your hands, I shall make every effort 
to escape ; audit is your duty to keep me if you can, and 
if" you shoot me while I am trying to get away, you will 
only be doing your duty ; but while I am a secure pris- 
oner, you have no more right to murder me than you 
have to murder anyone else." 

You must watch me closely, for I give you fair 
warning, that I shall escape if I can. This talk seemed 
to exasperate him more than ever, and regaining his re- 
volver, he swore that he would shoot the d — d Yankee 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 185 

any way. Said I, " Dick, if Captain Tidwell will let me 
take his revolver, I will step out here and shoot with 
yon for a \^hile, and see who is the best shot ; for I had 
abont as soon die here, as to be a prisoner mncli lonijer." 

Lientenant Leatherwood finally ordered him to put 
up his pistol or he would put him under arrest. He then 
subsided, but was grouty all the balance of the day. 
That evening we came to a school house in the woods, 
and concluded to stay there all night. 

Gathering up some dry wood we soon had a roaring 
fire going in the large open fire place, and as we had been 
supplied with two days rations we ate our supper, and 
then lighting our pipes, enjoyed ourselves just as though 
we all belonged to the same army. I got even Dick 
Hancock in good humor, by telling stories, and with 
Captain Alban, who was a good singer, treating them to 
the ''Red, White and Blue," the "Star Spangled Banner," 
and "Rally 'Round the Flag." 

When we came to the line, "And we'll hurl the 
rel^el crew from the land we love the best," the}' fairly 
made the w^oods ring wdth applause. 

Before bed time, Dick Hancock came up to me 
and apologized for his rudeness to me that afternoon, 
sayhig, "You are a d — d good fellow, anyway, and I 
don't care a d — n how cpuck you get away after I turn 
you over to the guard at Franklin." I asked him to cau- 
tion the boys against saying anything at Franklin about 
our attempted escape, and he promised to do so. 



186 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

We laughed, sang, swapped fiuiiiy stories, and 
cracked jokes until 10 o'clock, and a stranger going by 
would not have mistrusted that there were any heavy 
hearts in that crowd of boisterous soldiers. 

At 10 o'clock the door was securely fastened, one 
of the guard spreading his blanket and lying down against 
it, and Dick and the Lieutenant took the precaution to 
have Alban and myself sleep between them. 

About two o'clock the next morning, I awoke and 
asked to have a guard sent out of the house with me, and 
Captain Alban said he guessed he would go too. 

I was in hopes the Lieutenant would send young 
Johnson with us, l)ut Dick Hancock had not forgotten 
what transpired the day before, and said he would go 
along wdth the guard. 

He was mistrustful of young Johnson, and rightfully 
so, for had we went out with him alone we would lioth 
have got into the woods and taken his gun along with us; 
and once in the woods in the night, it would have been 
next to impossible to find us again. 

As it was we made no attempt to escape, but went 
back and slept until daylight. After breakflist that morn- 
ing we again saddled up and started for Franklin, which 
place we reached abont ten o'clock, and w^ere then turned 
over to another guard, who were made up of some of the 
best citizens of that beautiful village. I have none l)ut 
pleasant recollections of Franklin, and would like to visit 
the place again under the changed condition of things. 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 187 



CHAPTER XIX. 

A HOSPITABLE HOST— FRANKLIN JAIL— CHARITABLE WOMEN— A. THOUGHTFUL, 
MOTHERLY GIFT— A GENEROUS GUARD— ASHVILLE JAIL— ATTEMPT TO BREAK 
OUT. 

Upon our arrival at Franklin we were taken to the 
jail, but before we were locked up, Doctor Moore, of the 
village, invited us to his house to dinner, and upon his 
agreeing to be responsible for our safe return, we were 
allowed to go with him unattended by any guard. Al- 
though no promise had been exacted from us not to 
esca pe, we would not have attempted to leave, had an 
outlet presented itself We wipuld have considered it a 
base betrayal of his confidence, as much so as the vio- 
lation of a parole, to have taken advantage of so kind and 
generous a host. We were received at his house with 
all the cordiality of distinguished guests, and nothing was 
said or done, by any member of the family, that could 
be construed into a hint that we were other than wel- 
come visitors. 

Dr. Moore was an ardent supporter of the Confed- 
eracy, but was too much of a gentleman to allude to any 



ISS IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

thing (luring our visit, that would l)e oifensive to our ears. 
Books and papers were on the parlor table, photographs 
ot the family and friends were shown iis ; a stereoscope 
was also on the table, supplied with views of scenes l)oth 
in the North and South. I was lookino; at some of the 
views, when I, without knowing what it was, put one 
into the stereoscope and looking at it, almost imagined 
that I was in New York It was a view of Broadway from 
the Battery up. Oh ! how this picture reminded me of 
home. It seemed as though I could call a stage by raising 
my hand. I looked at it long and earnestly, so long 
that I almost forgot my surroundings, forgot everything, 
and was again among friends at home. 

Altogether, we passed a very pleasant afternoon 
with the genial doctor and his interesting family. 

As we were leaving, Mrs. Moore and a neighl)or, 
Mrs. Siler, having noticed our stockingless feet, pre- 
sented us each with a pair of nice, warm, woolen socks, 
that they had knitted for some member of their own 
family, and filling a l)asket with choice apples and pota- 
toes, sent them with us to the jail, which was to be our 
quarters that night. Arriving at the jail, we found that 
tlie doctor, thoughtful of our comfort, had caused a fire 
to be built in the wide fireplace, the cheerful glow of 
which made our imprisonment more tolerable. These 
lillle acts of kindness left a green spot in our memory of 
prison life, that still remains as an oasis in the otherwise 
cheerless desert we passed through. When God makes 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 1S9 

up his rewards and punishments, I am sure he will say to 
the kind-hearted doctor and his family, " I was sick and 
in prison, and ye visited me." 

The next day a Mr. Johnson was detailed as our 
guard, and instead of staying with us at the jail, he in- 
vited us to his house, where he kept us over night, giving 
us a good clean bed and a good supper and breakfast, 
and treating us as had Doctor Moore, more as guests than 
as prisoners. 

The next day we were started for Ashville, N. C, 
with a guard, under Lieutenant Ammon. The Lieutenant^ 
sympathizing with me in my enfeebled condition, furnished 
me with a mule to ride, and showed me every kind- 
ness possible. 

One of our guard on this trip was Hon. Thomas S. 
Siler, ex-member of Assembly of Macon county. He 
was a very agreeable gentleman, who still had a strong 
attachment for the Union. He was intelligent and well 
posted on every subject, and my conversation with him 
during the march, seemed to lessen the tediousness of the 
journey. 

We arrived at Ashville, N. C, on the 7th of Novem- 
ber, and were crowded into an upper room in the jail, 
about twelve feet square, in which there were besides us, 
twenty-seven rebel deserters, two of them sick with the 
measles. I had not been able up to this time, to do any- 
thing for my swollen and inflamed legs, and they were in 
a most frightful condition, causing me intense pain and 



190 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

suffering, so much so that I was fearful of loseing them 
entirely, as they had been neglected so long. A sur- 
geon visited me in the jail, and recommended my removal 
to the hospital, but although I offered to give my parole 
for that purpose, Colonel Lowe, wdio was in command, 
refused to allow^ me to be sent there. 

The room was so full, that it was impossible tor all 
of us to lie down at once, and we were obliged to take 
turns standing up. (3ur water closet consisted of a 
wooden pail in one corner of the room, which was twice 
a day carried out and emptied by the guard ; as we were 
none of us allowed to leave the room for any purpose. 
The intolerable stench from this pail, and the filthy slops 
around it, was enough to create an epidemic. 

The atmosphere of the room was simply insuffera- 
ble, and we were obliged to keep the windows raised, 
notwithstanding the cold weather, in order to get ventila- 
tion. We had one old stove in the room, but our supply 
of wood was quite insufficient to keep the temperature 
anything like comfortable, although the village was sur- 
rounded l)y good timber. 

One intensely cold night our wood had given out, 
and sol took the large iron poker and commenced pry- 
ing off the wainscoting of the room for fuel, and by 
morning I had completely stripped one side. That 
morning when the Sergeant came in he raised a great 
row about it, threatening to punish the one who had done 
it. I told him that I was the one, and that I had con- 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 191 

sidered it a military necessity, and that if we were not 
furnished with wood, he wonld wake np some morning 
and tind the ohi jail burned down. He said I should be 
reported and punished for destroying government pro- 
perty, but the only thing done was to give us thereafter 
a more liberal supply of fuel. 

We occupied a front room in the north-west corner 
of the jail, and in the room back of us were twenty-ninfe 
more reb deserters and a large, powerful negro, who had 
been placed there by his master as a punishment for 
some alleged misdemeanor. There was only a board 
partition between the two rooms, and it was not long be- 
fore I had established communication with our neighbors, 
by cutting a hole through the partition large enough to 
allow us to carry on conversation. Upon our entrance 
into the jail they had deprived us of our case knives that 
we had carried with us thus far, for fear we would cut 
our way out with them. 

But I had a screw driver to a gun which they hap- 
pened to overlook in their search. This I sharpened on 
the bricks on which the stove rested, and then com- 
menced making an outlet ibr our escape. I took a strong 
cord, and lashed the screw driver to a round stick of stove 
wood, and at night removed one of the sick men, and 
commenced by punching across two boards in the floor 
just over the joist, to cut through the floor. It was hard 
work, but by spelling each (jther, we had the two 
boards completely loose before midnight. Upon removing 



192 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

the loose boards we found that there was a ceihiig of the 
same thickness still between us and freedom. The floor 
and ceiling were both Norway pine, and very hard, and 
as we could not work with our short handled chisel we 
adopted another plan for that. 

We took the large poker which I had used to tear 
off the wainscoting, and heating it red hot in the stove, 
commenced burning holes through the under ceiling. 
We had a pail of water for drinking, and when it blazed 
up too much, we would dash on a cup full of water. 
This was slow work, but just at daylight we had removed 
the last board and then carefull}^ swept up all traces of 
our work, and placing the boards l)ack in their place, 
carried the sick men l^ack and laid them over them. Our 
windows were grated, and the room below was used as a 
store room and there were no grates at the windows 
there. 

Once down in that room after dark, and we could 
easily make our escape. Everything went along smoothly 
that morning. The guard came in to bring our break- 
fast and empty our slop pail, without any suspicion that 
any thing was wrong, but al^out ten o'clock the Sergeant 
came u}) with a guard, and commenced looking around 
as though in search of something. 

I knew instinctively what was up, l3ut as he had the 
stove removed and commenced poking around the brick 
platform without saying a word, I could not restrain my 
laughter, and asked him if he had lost something ; saying 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 193 

that if he had, perhaps I might tell him where to find it. 
He did not seem to take kindly to my offer of assistance, 
nor feel in a mood to enjoy the i^leasure his frantic efforts 
to find the lost treasure, appeared to afford me. In fact 
he seemed to take it as a piece of Yankee impertinence. 
After satisfying himself that there was nothing under the 
stove, he had us all take up our blankets and other traps, 
without deigning to tell us what it was all for. 

We all cheerfully complied with his order except 
the two sick rebs, who were too weak to get up. After 
thoroughly searching every other part of the room, he 
had the two sick men removed, and there discovered the 
loose boards and seemed satisfied and pleased. Was that 
what you was looking for Sergeant? said I. If you had 
told me what you wanted I could have told you where 
to look when you first came up, and saved you all this 
trouble. You'ens Yanks think you are d — d cute, don't 
you ? was all the reply I received. He left the guard in 
the room while he went and got a carpenter to repair the 
floor. He soon returned with a carpenter, and told him 
to nail them boards down securely. I told some of my 
associates, to keep him interested, by asking him how he 
discovered the hole, and I would fix the carpenter. 

Carelessly lounging up to where he was working, I 

said in a tone that could not be heard by anyone else : 

" I can get those boards up easier if you break the 

nails off." 

13 



194 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

He replied in" the same imdertoiie : '' I don't care a 
d — n liow soon you get them up when I get away," 

I watched him, and saw that he followed my sug- 
gestion, breaking the nails in two with the claw of his 
hammer, so that they only a little more than w^ent 
through the flooring. After he had tinished the Sergeant 
inspected the work, and judging from the number of nails 
that it was securely done, took his guard and went away. 

It seems that the family who lived in the lower part 
of the jail, kept a barrel of corn in that room below us, 
from which they fed their chickens, and that barrel set 
right under the hole we had cut ; and when the old 
woman went to get some corn for her chickens that 
morning, she found it covered with chips and cinders, 
and looking up to ascertain the cause, discovered the hole 
in the ceiling. She at once notitied the Sergeant of the 
discovery, and the result was we had our trouble and 
work for nothing. 

Captain Alban and myself were the only Yankee 
prisoners in the jail, and until our arrival there had been 
no attempt at escape, and to us therefore was attributed 
all of the attempts to break out. 

While the reb deserters were willing to share with 
us all the benefits to be derived from a break, they were 
too shiftless and lazy to fully enter into our plans for an 
escape. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 195 



CHAPTER XX. 

ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT ESCAPE DISCOVERED— A BOLD PLOT— LACK OF SAND IN 
THE BEB DESERTERS— A BRAVE NEGRO— THE FLOGGING. 

Being satisfied that I could remove the flooring at 
any time within a few minutes, I^told my fellow prison- 
ers what I liad said, and what I had seen done, and tbat 
when everything had become quiet, I would guarantee to 
get them out with ten minutes work. Some of the rebs 
were not satisfied, and insisted upon loosening the floor 
again at once, and despite all I could do, ' they persisted 
in doing so. The third night after was settled upon as 
the one to leave, as it promised to be dark and rainy, 
but just before night, the Sergeant took it into his head 
to try the floor, and procuring a long pole he went into 
the room below and punched at the loose boards, which 
immediately yielded, and then he brought in another car- 
penter, and personally superintended stopping up the 
aperture, which was done by spiking pieces of joist, 
against the floor joists, completely closing it up. 

As I said, we had cut a hole through the partition, 
so that we could communicate with our neighbors in the 
next room. We made up a plot with them to seize the 



196 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

Sergeant when lie came in at ni^bt to empty their slop 
pail, lock him in the room, take the keys and unlock onr 
door, and we would all leave at once. We had bribed 
one of the guard to let us disarm him, and then we would 
be free to go out. A¥hen we got outside we would en- 
counter another guard, l)ut with one gun we could easily 
overpower and disarm him, and then trust to the two 
guns and our agility to gain the woods, which were 
close by. 

It was all arranged that the large, powerful negro 
should seize the Sergeant from behind and hold him, 
while his companions secured his pistol and the keys. 
That night when the Sergeant came up, he brought one 
armed guard to the head of the stairs, and proceeded to 
unlock the door. As he entered, the negro, who stood 
behind the door, caught him from behind, securely pin- 
ioning his arms, and the keys and revolver were taken 
from him and all passed out except the negro, who was 
holding the Sergeant as securely as though he was in a 
vice. 

When they had all got out the Sergeant was pushed 
into the cell and the door locked. The guard at the 
head of the stairs shouted, loud enough for the Sergeant 
to hear him: " Go back, or I'll shoot! go back!" all 
the time expecting they would rush up and disarm him; 
but the cowards, fearing he was in earnest, fell back 
and unlocked the door, released the Sergeant, and gave 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 197 

him back his pistol without unlocking the door to our 
room. 

Not knowing that the prisoners in our room were in 
the plot, the Sergeant paid no attention to us, but calling 
the officer of the guard, told him what had occurred. 

They took the negro out into the hall, and bringing 
up a plank, proceeded to lash him securely to it, with his 
face down, after having stripped him. 

They then took a strap something like a tug to a 
single harness, and gave him one hundred lashes with it 
upon his bare back, the blood flowing at every blow. 

We had cut slits in the door, and through them 
watched this brutal transaction. I watched the opera- 
tion of binding him with some curiosity and a good deal 
of indignation, and was astonished to find such brutality 
among those who professed civilization. Unaccustomed 
to such scenes, I must say it was the most sickening 
transaction I ever witnessed. 

The shrieks and groans of this poor fellow, was 
enough to send a chill of horror through the most hard- 
ened. He begged for mercy in the most piteous terms, 
and as the cruel strap laid ojien the quivering flesh, and 
the blood trickled down his body, I shouted indignantly 
to his inhuman persecutors, that the poor fellow was not 
to blame, half as much as the white men; that he was 
only carrying out the instructions of the cowardly whites, 
who had basely deserted him after ])romising to stand by 
him. I told them that the poor ignorant black's only fault 



198 ' IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

had been, his confidence in the courage of his white as- 
sociates, to as faithfully carry out their part of the pro- 
gramme, as he had carried out his. 

That if any one should be punished it should be 
those whose lack of sand had got this poor fellow into a 
scrape and then like cowards basely deserted him. Find- 
ing that the infuriated monsters were bound to vent tlieir 
spite upon this poor fellow, I turned away, and by holding 
my hands to my ears tried to shut out the sound of his 
pitiful cries for mercy. While reason remains to me I 
can never forget the scenes of that terrible night. 

And to those inhuman monsters it seemed a pleasant 
pastime — such is the brutalizing effect of the system of 
human slavery. Once in a life-time is enough to witness 
such a revolting scene as this ; I have witnessed one 
such, and I trust in God it may never be my misfortune 
to be obliged to witness another. 

After this exhibition of fiendish cruelty, I am ready 
to believe that the system of human slavery was capable of 
developing total depravity into the hearts of slave hoklers. 
What man in the North could look on complacently and 
see such a cruel punishment inflicted ! And yet the 
Southern whites seemed to look upon this brutality as a 
matter of course, and even before the preparations were 
made for the flogging, knew what would be the punish- 
ment inflicted upon the poor black, for his unsuccessful 
attempt 1o liberate his white skinned, and white livered 
comrades ; and wliile they seemed to feel a sort of sym- 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 199 

pathy for their black skinned, but brave hearted com- 
rade, they offered no remonstrance to his cruel tor- 
mentors, nor made a plea for mercy in his behalf 

When they seemed to become exhausted with their 
violent exercise, in swinging that cruel strap, they began 
, to question the poor, fainting negro thus : 

" What did you do it for, anyhow ? " 

" Oh, massa, dem white men dey told me to," 
moaned the poor fellow. 

" Will you ever mind them fellows again ? " 

'' No, massa ; if you only let me go this time I'll 
never pay mo' 'tention to dem white trash dan I would 
to a fly," he said in a pleading voice. 

He was not put back into the jail again, and what 
became of him we never learned. Our plan for escape 
had been well matured, and had it succeeded, as it 
would have done Init for the weakening of the rebel de- 
serters, there is scarcely a doubt but that we would have 
safely reached our lines, as these deserters were thorough- 
ly acquainted with the country around Ashville and 
knew every turpentine path through the pine forests, and 
all of the mountain passes, as well as an old resident of 
Oswego knows the streets of the city. 

Our plan was, to disarm the guard at the door, and 
then rush for the stack of arms belonging to the relief, 
who were not then on duty, and then fight our way 
through to Tennessee, where the loyal inhabitants of that 
state would join us in resisting recapture by the Con- 
federates. 



200 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

It was well understood by all, that once in Tennessee 
we were safe from molestation. This had been our ob- 
jective point upon our escape from Columbia; and when 
we were unfortunately recaptured by Dick Hancock 
and Tom Hubbard, we were just intending, after getting 
something to eat at Mr. Harshaws, to at once go into the 
woods, and not leave them again until we had gained the 
river, which was only about two miles ahead. 

Once at the river we were to search for a boat of 
some kind with which to cross it, and failing to find one, 
to build a raft that would float us over to the Tennessee 
shore. But it was destined otherwise. We learned 
after our recapture, that the officer we had seen sitting 
upon the stoop of a store at Fort Emory, was a paroled 
prisoner of war who was suffering from a wound, and by 
having been a prisoner at the North, recognized us as 
Yankees, and informed Dick Hancock and Tom Hub- 
bard, who thereupon mounted and followed us up. 

They had about given up overhauling us when they 
arrived at Mr. Harshaw's, and said that if they had not 
found us there or learned by him that we were near hy, 
that they would not have followed us any further, as it 
was then almost dark and they had already followed us ten 
miles. They said that until they found tliat authoriza- 
tion paper upon me they did not believe that we were 
Yankees, but supposed we were deserters from the Con- 
federate army, who were trying to make our escape into 
the Tennessee border. 



IN AND OUT OF EEBEL PRISONS. 201 



CHAPTER XXL 

PLACED IN AN IRON CAGE— BREAKING OUT AND ATTEMPTING TO DIG THROUGH 
A BRICK WALL— AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE. 

The next morning, we were all marched into a room 
on the opposite side of the hall, and to the south side of the 
jail, and were placed in an iron cage, made of flat bars 
two inches wide, and half an inch thick, lirmly riveted 
together, and as I told the Sergeant, although we could 
not wear diamonds, we could look through them. We 
were packed into this cage like sardines in ahox, scarcely 
having room to move. There were iron benches along 
the sides for us to sit upon, but lying down was quite 
out of the question. 

When all was quiet that night, we thought as we 
could not sleep we would try and get out. 

The door was fastened with a round iron prop that 
fitted into a socket in the floor, and was fastened to the 
door by a padlock. This prop we wrenched from its 
fastenings by reaching out through the diamond in the 
door, and then with it broke the lock, and the iron door 
swung back, giving us free egress to the room. The 



202 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

cage was al)oiit twenty feet long and eight feet wide, 
with a partition in the centre. This icage set in the mid- 
dle of the room, and was about six feet from the walls of 
the room on all sides. With the bar thus wrenched off, 
we at once attacked the brick wall, and while some de- 
tached the brick, others held a blanket underneath to 
prevent the falling brick and mortar from falling to the 
floor, as they would make a noise that would attract the 
attention of those beneath us. We had made an opening 
nearly half way through the outer wall, which was large 
enough for a good sized man to pass out, when most un- 
expectedly two more prisoners were brought in, and our 
operations were discovered, and the attempt to escape 
was again frustrated. 

A guard was then placed in the room, and as we 
could not sleep, we spent the night in singing " Rally 
'Round the Flag," and other Union songs, and chaffing 
with the guard, who were nearly all, more or less, tinc- 
tured with Union sentiments, and only kept us from es- 
caping, for fear of the consequence to themselves. Morn- 
ing came and with it an order to get ready to go to 
Danville, Va. 

I told the officer that I could not march on account 
of my inflamed legs, but he said that if I had got out of 
jail my legs would not have bothered me much, and he 
reckoned that it would do me good to take a walk any- 
way. And he would put us d — d Yanks where we 
wouldn't bother him any more. So, after furnishing us 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 203 

with two days rations to last to Morgantowii, they started 
four of us, Captain Albau, myself, and the two Union prison- 
ers brought in the night before, whose names I do not 
now remember, under a guard consisting of a Lieutenant 
and four men, for a tramp over the mountains. 

Our march over the mountains was a tedious one, 
interspersed now and then, however, with some amus- 
ing incident. We were in good humor with the guard, 
and laughed and joked along the road in a free and easy 
sort of way, and succeeded in making ourselves agreeable 
to them, gaining their confidence as much as we could, 
and after we had been marching half a day, a casual ob- 
server would have hardly distinguished the prisoners 
from the guard. We straggled along much the same as 
a dozen rebs would have done on a march by themselves. 

On the afternoon of the first day's march, we came 
along to a hickory grove, where about a dozen l)lack and 
gray squirrels were sporting about on the top branches, 
gathering nuts, and I asked one of the guard to let me 
take his gun a minute and I would get a couple of them 
for our supper. He was about handing the gun to me, 
when the Lieutenant stopped him by saying: "You 
d — d fool, do you know what you are carrying that gun 
for '? That Yankee might miss the squirrel and shoot 
you." 

I laughed, and said he must think I wasn't much ot 
a shot. But he said he was afraid I was too good a shot 
to be handling one of their guns ; anyway the squirrels 



204 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

were prol^al)!}' tame ones belonging to the house near by, 
and his orders were not to disturb anything along the 
line of march. That night w^e stopped at an old farmer's 
and I thought tliat if we had a room with a window look- 
ing outside there might be a chance for escape, and asked 
to be given a room to sleep in that was well ventilated, 
as I always liked lots of fresh air in my room ; but we 
were placed in a middle room up stairs, and a guard 
placed in the room with us all night. 

The next morning, after a good hearty breakfast 
with the family, for which the Lieutenant gave the far- 
mer a receipt, we started on again, and at noon we de- 
scended a mountain that was so steep that the road was 
made zig-zag to allow wagons to gain the summit ; and 
as we came to the foot of the mountain we found a rude, 
log hut in wdiich lived a hunter. We stopped there to 
get dinner, and were all at a loss to guess what kind of 
fresh meat we were eating, and in answer to my inquiry 
the host said: "That, Mister, is bar meat; I was up on 
the mounting one day last week, and came upon this 
varmint eatin' blackberries, and I fetched him home for 
winter. Don't be afeared ; bar meat won't hurt ye 
niore'n liftin' on a stick o' basswood." 

That afternoon one of the most amusing incidents of 
the march occurred. 

We came to a farm house, arid the farmer being at 
lu)nie, we all sat down on a log he had hauled up to the 
trout of the house, for cutting up into fire wood, for a 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 205 

chat with him and to rest a Uttle. The farmer sat on 
one end of the log, the Lieutenant next, and the rest of 
us were strung along. 

The fellow who sat next to me had an ear of coruj 
and there were quite a number of chickens picking 
around the wood pile. While the Lieutenant and far- 
mer were talking, this fellow took out his iron ramrod and 
laid it against the log beside him, and then commenced 
shelling the corn and feeding the chickens. Watching 
the farmer, he would tap a chicken across the back of 
the neck with his ramrod, stuff him in the breast of his 
overcoat, and innocently go on shelling the corn for the 
other chickens. 

In this way I saw" him gobble three good fat chickens, 
when he told the Lieutenant he was going to walk on a 
piece. When we overtook him about eighty rods further 
on, he was sitting in the woods beside the road, picking 
the chickens he had stolen from the farmer. The Lieu- 
tenant called to him and said, sternly: "I thought I told 
you not to plunder while on the march." "Well," said he, 
with a comical drawl, "I don't allow no doggone chicken 
to come out and bite at me." That settled it ; we had 
chicken for supper that night, and the Lieutenant seemed 
to relish the supper as much as any of us. 

The next day we marched to Morgantown, and there 
took the cars for Danville, Va. We saw no opportunity 
to escape, for we were guarded very strictly, though at 
the same time we were treated with all the courtesy that 



206 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

could possibly be shown us, and I believe our guard 
would have defended us with force, against any one who 
had attempted to molest us. 

When we arrived at Salisbury, which was one of 
the most notorious rebel slaughter houses of the South, 
a place that vied with Andersonville in atrocities, cruel- 
ties, starvation and death. A place where thirteen 
thousand Union soldiers, became victims to the vindic- 
tiveness of their captors — no not their captors but their 
jailors — for the soldier, whether federal or confederate, 
who had the courage to risk his life in the field where 
prisoners were captured, possessed too great a sense of 
honor to treat with such heartless cruelty, those who so 
gallantly opposed them. 

I say that when we arrived at Salisbury, we learned 
that there had been a desperate attempt made by the 
enlisted men confined there, to overpower the guard and 
make their escape that afternoon, and the artillery had 
opened on the prison pen with grape and cannister, killing, 
and wounding, many of the Union prisoners confined 
there. Great excitement still prevailed when we arrived, 
and threats of shooting the d — d Yanks were freely in- 
dulged in by the ''new issue," as the home guard were 
called. 

But we were not molested ; probably owing to the 
fact that we had a guard over us, of soldiers who w^ere 
ready and willing to protect their prisoners from inter- 
ference from outside parties. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 20T 

We staid in Salisbury until about eleven o'clock 
p. ni., during which time the reb guard, and their lady 
friends, were parading around the depot where we were 
waiting for the train, singing, flirting, and talking about 
the Yankee prisoners. 

While w^e were sitting on the depot platform wait- 
ing, we were smoking, and as the platform was filled 
with bales of cotton, we were, while apparently uninter- 
ested spectators of what was going on, emptying our 
pipes into the cotton bales. 

We thus managed to set fire to a numlier of these 
bales of cotton, well knowing that after we were gone 
and the guard had retired, there would be apt to be a 
blaze ; and the next day we heard that the depot at 
SaHsbury was burned the night before, destroying a large 
amount of cotton stored there. On my arrival at Dan- 
ville, I met Colonel W. C. Raulston, of the 24th New 
York Cavalry, with whom I was acquainted, and who in- 
troduced me to the members of his mess, Brigadier-Gen- 
eral A. N. Duffie, Brigadier-General Hays, and Lieuten- 
ants Leydon and VanDerweed, who w^ere all anxious to 
talk with me about the chances of escape. Knowing 
that I had had considerable experience in that line, they 
naturally concluded that I could give them some valuable 
points on how to escape, and how best to reach our lines 
after we had got out. 

Well, we held a long and animated conference, in 
which I gave some of my own experience, in and out of 



208 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

rebel prisons, telling them of the hardships and exciting 
scenes through which I and my comrades had passed 
in trying to reach our lines, of the difficulties we had 
encountered, and the priyations we had been obliged to 
endure. To get out of prison was not a difficult task for 
one or two, Init a successful prison delivery was quite 
another thing to accomplish. 

Two hundred officers, each having ideas of their 
own, were harder to control than five times that number 
of enlisted men, who had been disciplined to obey ; and 
as no one had any authority to command, or control the 
actions, of his fellow officers, we lacked the greatest es- 
sential to success — organization. Various plans were 
suggested and discussed, but none which seemed to 
promise success, appeared to be practical just at that 
time. Almost daily conferences were held, but the pre- 
vailing opinion seemed to be, that an attempted general 
outbreak, without thorough organization, would prove 
disasterous, and only end in an unnecessary sacrifice of 
life, and almost certain failure. 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PKISONS. 209 



CHAPTER XXII. 

DANVILLE PRISON— A COLD WINTER— DOUBLE-QUICKING AROUND THE ROOM TO 
KEEP WARM— EXCITEMENT CAUSED BY THE ARRIVAL OF FRESH TROOPS— 
THEY STACK ARMS IN FRONT OF OUR PRISON— PLANS FOR ESCAPE. 

Danville in 1864-5 was a town of considerable im- 
portance to the Confederacy, being the base of supplies 
for the Confederate army at Richmond and Petersburg. 
There were three or four military prisons there, in which 
were confined about two thousand enlisted men, captured 
from the Union forces, and four hundred officers. They 
were all confined in tobacco warehouses in different 
parts of the city, the officers being separate from the en- 
listed men. 

The prison in which the officers were confined, was 
a three story tobacco warehouse, 40x100 feet, near the 
River Dan. The windows were securely grated with 
iron bars, and the whole building was rendered secure 
by heavy oaken doors. 

The building faced the east, and a street ran in 

front and, also, one on the south side. In front, and on 

the south side, sentries were pacing up and down, night 

and day; and there were also two sentries stationed on 

14 



210 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

the ground floor, inside, one along the south side, and the 
other across the west end. 

The sinks used by the prisoners, were just outside 
the west end of the building, and were surrounded by a 
high board or plank fence. The second and third floors 
were occupied l)y the prisoners, and at the time I was 
there — the winter of 1864-5 — were each supplied with 
two large Peckham stoves, to furnish warmth to the 
building. On the ground floor where the guard was 
stationed, there was no stove; and during the winter, the 
cold air from below was anything but comfortable, as it 
found its way through the wide cracks in the floor, and 
came in contact with the thinly clad l)odies, of those 
especially, who were sleeping on the second floor. 

The winter of 1864-5, in Virginia, was extremely 
cold. The river that winter was frozen over solid 
enough to make a safe crossing on the ice ; and the 
officers were frequently obliged to get in line and double 
quick around the room to keep from freezing. This 
could not be done unless all or a large proportion joined 
in the exercise ; for if one or more attempted it while 
the rest were lying down, they would be obliged to step 
over the bodies of their recumbent comrades. 

During the daytime, the ground floor was used for 
exercising, twenty being allowed down there at a time, 
and as there was plenty of room, it was no uncommon 
tiling to see that number, or even more, down there at 
a time taking their exercise. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 211 

The rule of the prison was, that no one shoiikl ap- 
proach within less than six feet of a sentry, or hold any 
conversation with them; and although there was no dead 
line in this prison, an imaginary line six feet from the 
sentry, was pretty generally observed. We were obliged 
to pass the sentry at the back end of the building, in 
going to and from the sink ; but as he was continually 
pacing back and forth, it was his lookout that we did not 
come within the prescribed distance of him. 

The prisons in which the enlisted men were con- 
fined w^ere of the same description, or at least some of 
them were. Two or three of them were in sight of our 
front windows, one being just across the street. 

Some of the enlisted men were detailed in the cook 
house, for which service they received extra rations. 

This brief description of the Confederate prisons in 
Danville, is necessary, that the reader may more easily 
understand some of the incidents that follow. 

In the last chapter I spoke of the conference be- 
tween Col. W. C. Raulston, Gen. A. N. Duffie, and my- 
self, as to the prospects of getting through to our lines 
if we should escape from prison. Many difficulties lay 
in the way of a general l)reak being successful. 

Danville at this time was guarded by quite a large 
force ; and even should we be successful in getting out 
of prison, we would be obliged to overpower this armed 
force, and then make our way through the enemies' 
country in order to reach the Union lines ; and on the 



212 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

marcli we would be liable to be intercepted by large 
bodies of Confederate troops. The nearest point at 
which we could reasonably expect to reach the Union 
forces, would be the Shenandoah Valley ; and this would 
be to us a long, and difficult march, unless we could 
be well supplied with arms and rations before we started. 

All this time however, a sharp lookout was kept up, 
for anything that looked like a favorable opportunity for 
a strike for freedom and home. 

On the 9th of December, about sixteen days after 
my arrival, the opportunity seemed to present itself On 
that day, a company of Confederate soldiers were drawn 
up in front of our prison, where they stacked arms. 
They were new comers, and of course at once attracted 
our attention. 

Shut up as we were in a tobacco warehouse, with 
absolutely no knowledge of what was transpiring in the 
outside world, except such information as we could pick 
up from our guard, whose ignorance of passing events 
seemed almost as great as our own, the arrival of new 
troops was solnething to excite our curiosity, and give 
us something to think about. 

Anything to excite our curiosity and relieve the 
monotony of the daily routine of prison life, acted upon 
us much the same as a band of music in the streets to- 
day affects the street idlers of the city. All who could 
do so, gathered at the windows to inspect the new 
comers, and speculate upon the occasion that brought 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. " 213 

them there. We judged them to be troops who had 
seen service, by their rough and ready appearance, and 
their well-worn and, in some cases, shabby uniforms. 

Various were the speculations as to who they were, 
where they came from, and the reason of their appear- 
ance in Danville at this time. Had they come to relieve 
those who had thus far been our guards, and with whom 
we had became somewhat familiar? 

Had they come to take us to Richmond to be ex- 
changed? (This word exchange was ever uppermost 
in our thoughts wdiile awake, and mingled in our dreams 
while sleeping.) Or had they been merely sent here, to 
more securely guard against any attempted outbreak? 

All of these questions suggested themselves to our 
minds, and were freely discussed, while they were being 
formed into line in front of our prison, where they stacked 
arms. 

Soon the order came, break ranks, and they dis- 
persed without taking the precaution of leaving a guard 
over the stacks of arms. Soon there was a buzz of ex- 
citement throughout the building. 

Longing eyes were directed towards those stacks of 
arms ; if we could only get the door open upon some pre- 
text, how easy it would be to gobble those forty guns, 
and the w^ell filled cartridge boxes that hung from the 
bayonets, and before the old guard could be called out, 
overpower them, take their arms, capture Danville and 
be in the field once more. Groups assembled throughout 



214 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

the building, and excitedly discussed the chances of suc- 
cess or failure, if we should make the attempt. Some 
were for making an immediate sally down stairs, call the 
Sergeant of the guard, and as he opened the door to see 
what was wanted^ seize him, fling wide open the door, 
make a rush for the arms, and let circumstances govern 
our actions afterwards. Others more cautious, counciled 
delay and a thoroughly organized attack. 

A council of field officers was immediately called, 
and it was decided to make a perfect organization of the 
entire prison, having each arm of the service, Infantry, 
Cavalry and Artillery, in separate detachments, com- 
manded by sets of officers of their own choosing, the 
whole to be under the command of Colonel W. C. Raul- 
ston, 24th New York Cavalry, Brig. General Duffie 
waiving his rank and being second in comnmnd. 

This advice was finally accepted, and the work of 
organization was immediately commenced. Colonel 
Raulston was known to be a gallant Cavalry officer, whose 
coolness and courage could be relied upon, and whose 
military ability was well understood by all. Officers 
were chosen for the different detachments, the others all 
promising to cheerfully obey all orders, and perform all 
duties assigned them. 

This necessarily occupied considerable time, and 
before the organization was completed, the guard, who 
were all unconscious of our plans, came out, took their 
arms and marched around to the shed on the north side 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 215 

of the building, that was used for the men's quarters, 
where they were out of sight, as there were no windows 
on that side of the building. 

Thus the golden opportunity had been allowed to 
pass. The hour we had spent in perfecting our organi- 
zation, and maturing our plans, while it was well em- 
ployed, was the hour of our great opportunity, and had 
now gone, to be added to the many hours of great op- 
portunities lost. 

The work of organization went steadily forward 
however, hoping for another favorable opportunity to 
occur. 




216 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PKISONS, 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

PRISON RULES— STARVING IN THE MIDST OF PLENTY— ORGANIZING FOR A 
BREAK— TRADING WITH THE GUARD— BUSINESS IN PRISON. 

Although the orders were very strict that the guard 
should hold no conversation with prisoners, and they 
were instructed to shoot anyone who attempted to ap- 
proach them, their cupidity often led them to violate 
their instructions, which were equally well understood 
by us, and deterred many from attempting any familiarity. 
But there were those, who had tact and pluck enough to 
take all risks, to make a trade with them, of boots, rings, 
watches, and other valuables, for bacon, tobacco, flour, 
and other necessaries. In fact this had been my daily 
occupation, with the exception of the first week, since 
my arrival in Danville. 

Buying gold pens, rings, watches, and everything of 
value, and selling them to the guard ; and in return buy- 
ing of them, provisions for myself, and to sell to my fellow 
prisoners, who had money, but did not wish to take the 
risk or trouble, to get up in the night and go down stairs 
to trade. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PKISONS. 217 

Most of the exchanges were made in the night, just 
after the eleven o'clock relief came on ; although the bar- 
gains were usually made in the daytime. 

Thirty men were allowed to go down stairs to the 
sinks at a time, and from fifteen to twenty, were allowed 
two or three times a day, to go out doors for the purpose 
of bringing water from the river, which was about forty 
rods from our prison, and get wood and coal, to supply 
the two large stoves on each floor, and do our cooking 
with. 

I have been thus minute in my description, that the 
reader might better understand what follows. The four 
hundred officers were organized into eight companies, 
with full sets of officers for each, and the balance acting 
as privates. I belonged to the Cavalry detachment, and 
we were to mount ourselves as fast as we could get 
horses, as far as it was possible for us to do so, and act 
as the advance guard or vidette. There were, at this 
time, about eighteen hundred prisoners in Danville, scat- 
tered about in diffisrent buildings, and the plan agreed 
upon, if we succeeded in the break was, to seize all the 
arms we could, overpower the guards at the diffisrent 
prisons, release the enlisted men, capture and hold the 
town, take possession of the telegraph office (operators 
having been detailed who were experts in telegraphing), 
impress into the service all the horses we could find for 
the Artiller}' and Cavalry ; supply ourselves with arms as 
tar as possible, supply ourselves with rations and forage 



218 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

from the Confederate storehouses, form the enlisted men 
into companies, and march through as an army and join 
Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. 

Danville was at this time, the depot of supplies for 
Lee's army at Richmond, and contained a large amount 
of Artillery and ammunition ; besides having storehouses, 
well stocked with captured hard taclv, so that there would 
be no lack of supplies for our army. We were therefore, 
actually dying of starvation in the midst of plenty. In 
going daily from the prison to the river for water, we 
passed a building 20x40 feet, two stories high, that was 
packed from bottom to top with captured U. S. hard 
tack, and others filled with bacon, and other provisions ; 
and tried to get Colonel Smith, commanding the prisons, 
to give us rations of hard tack once or twice a week, but 
were told tliat this was held for the use of their troops 
in the field. 

For fresh meat, we were supplied with the heads 
and lights of beeves, and for twenty-six days we did not 
even receive that ; our only rations during this time, lac- 
ing a piece of corn bread, or johnny-cake, made from 
unbolted corn meal, four inches long, three wide, and two 
inches thick, for twenty-four liours. 

This would not more than half satisfy an ordinary 
man for his breakfast, and a good feeder would then 
want a couple of eggs, a good sized potato and one or 
two cups of coffee lor a full meal, and even a half-pound 
of beef steak would not be left to be thrown into the 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 219 

slops. While the rations we received would have been 
considered princely fare by our famished comrades at 
Andersonville and Salisbury, still it was just enough to 
keep us constantly hungry, and make us think what we 
would eat if we should ever get the chance to again sit 
down to a good square meal. Like the castaway upon 
the great ocean, with "Water, water, everywhere, and 
not a drop to drink," so we were dying of starvation in 
the midst of plenty. I say we, by that I mean the great 
majority of prisoners. As for myself, while in Danville, 
I only lived exclusively on the prison rations drawn for 
five days, and I thought I should die of starvation in that 
short time. 

Then, as I have heretofore stated, I went into business, 
buying and selling jewelry, etc. 

Now I suppose [the reader would like to know 
where the capital came from with which to commence 
business ; for goods must be bought before they are sold, 
and as I have before stated, I had sold even the buttons 
off my uniform, in order to supply myself with food to 
satisfy my hunger. 

Well, I happened to be talking one day with. Captain 
Albert Thomas, 24th New York Cavalry, who has now 
a studio in Syracuse, N. Y., and he showed me a gold 
pen and silver case, that he had been trying to sell, with- 
out success. He was entirely out of money, having some 
days before used the last cent of a one hundred dollar bill, 
which he had most ingeniously secreted upon his person, 



220 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 

when stripped and searched at Libby prison, upon his en- 
trance into that notorious rebel prison hell, presided over 
by the equally notorious Dick Turner. He said he had 
oiFered the whole- thing for fifteen dollars in Confederate 
money, but said he, while some folks can sell imy worth- 
less article, I can never sell anything. 

I told him to let me take it, and I would either re- 
turn him his pencil or bring him fifteen dollars within 
half an hour. He gave me the pencil, and I went down 
stairs to interview the guard. It would not do to ap- 
proach him and ofifer to sell, as he might assert his au- 
thority by trading me a Confederate bullet instead of 
scrip, and I was not hankering after rebel lead just then. 
So I walked up and down the floor near him, holding the 
pencil in my hand so that he could get a good view of it. 
After a wlnle, looking around to assure himself that no 
Confederate officer was near, he asked in a low tone, 
'Svhat d'ye ask for it?" 

This gave me an opportunity to speak, and I an- 
swered as cautiously, " Twenty -five dollars." " Let me 
take it ; I'll give it back in a minute." I walked up and 
handed it to him and stepped back, while he paced up and 
down examining it carefully. Finally counting out the 
amount, he beckoned me to come to him, and handed me 
the money. Of course, I was perfectly safe in allowing 
him to examine the pencil ; for if he had refused to 
return or pay for it, I could have had him severely pun- 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PKI80NS. 221 

ished for disobedience of orders, in allowing a prisoner 
to approach and converse with him. 

Within twenty minutes from the time I took the pen 
and case, I returned to Captain Thomas with the fifteen 
dollars, and had made ten dollars for myself This ten 
dollars I immediately invested in a similar pencil, and 
immediately sold it to the same guard for thirty dollars. 
With this start, I succeeded in making enough to live 
upon, by buying of prisoners, and selling to the guard, 
and in return buying of the guard at night and selling to 
my comrades the next day. 




222 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

ORGANIZATION FOR A BREAK COMPLETED-THE ATTEMPTED BREAK-THE 
GUARD DISARMED— TOO LATE, GO BACK— COLONEL RAULSTON SHOT. 

Our organization being now perfected, and our plans 
matured, we lay down that night, and held whispered con- 
sultations about our proposed future operations. I have 
already stated that the prisoners occupied the second and 
third floors of the building ; the stiiirs being located in 
the north-east corner, and at the foot of the lower flight, 
was a room about twelve feet square, with a door leading 
to the street. In this room we usually waited with pails, 
to be let out to bring water, wood and coal, for the sup- 
ply of the prison. 

The next day everything seemed quiet, and at nine 
o'clock, when we were fell in for count, nothing could 
be detected that would indicate that anything unusual 
was contemplated. 

During the forenoon, I had a long talk with Colonel 
Raulston, and General DuflBe, who both seemed to think 
that we had better be prepared, and hold ourselves in 
readiness to take advantage of any favorable circumstance 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 223 

that might occur, but that it was best for the present, to 
remain quiet, and bide our time. What was my surprise 
then, while sitting with the Colonel at dinner, to see a gun- 
boat officer approach with his overcoat and traps all on, and 
say. Colonel we are waiting for you, sir. The Colonel 
replied, well, if that is all you are waiting for, you won't 
have long to wait ; and leaving his half-eaten dinner, got 
up, put on his overcoat, and started down stairs. 

About the same time, about a dozen or fifteen went 
down with pails, and entered the room that opened on 
the street. 

Colonel Raulston approached the guard near the foot 
of the stairs, and was trying to trade boots with him, while 
General Duffie approached the one at the back end of 
the room, and began bantering him for a trade; the Col- 
onel, and General, each wearing a pair of long riding 
boots, which was something the average reb seemed to 
have a great weakness for. 

The men with the pails, asked the sentry with whom 
Colonel Raulston was talking, to call the Sergeant of h 
guard and he called as usual — Sergeant of the guard post 
number fo. Then Colonel Raulston gave the signal — 
now — when simultaneously both he and the General, 
seized and floored their man. 

Raulston placed his hand over his man's mouth, 
telling him to keep quiet and he would not be hurt, while 
Duffie held his man by the throat, to prevent him mak- 
ing any alarm. Lieutenant McGraw, 24th New York 



224 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

Cavalry, who had been assigned to the duty, took the 
guns away from the guard, and at the same time the 
officers from above commenced fiHng down the stairs. 
The Sergeant came to answer the call, but he must have 
heard the scuffle, for he only opened the door about two 
inches, when he slammed and locked it again, and im- 
mediately called out the guard to surround the building. 
Each officer had armed himself with a stick of stove 
wood, and all were packed up and in marching order. 

An attempt was made with these clubs to batter 
down the door, but it was a heavy oak door, and would 
not yield to their blows. Satisfied that the attempt w^as 
a failure, General Duffie called out, "Too late, go back!" 

Owing to the fact that there was by this time quite 
a crowd down there, and the stairs being only wide 
enough for two to go up abreast, it was some time be- 
fore all could reach the top. 

Colonel Raulston and myself were the last to go up, 
and I had just reached the landing, the Colonel who was 
three or four steps behind me, had stopped to look out of 
the window, when the report of a gun rang out from 
below, and he started suddenly, and hurrying past me, 
went up the next ffight, to the place he occupied on the 
floor above. 

Although shot through the bowels, and at so short 
a range, strange as it may seem, he did not fall or make 
any outcry ; and it was not until some time after, that I 
learned that he was wounded 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 225 

I subsequently learned by some of my comrades, 
that he went to the place where he slept, took off his 
overcoat, opened his clothing and examined the w^ouiid, 
saying as he lay down, ''boys, I guess my goose is cooked." 

Within a very few minutes, the guard led l)y the 
Colonel in command, filed up the stairs, where they found 
every thing as quiet as though nothing had occurred. 

Some were playing checkers, backgammon or cards, 
some reading scraps of newspapers, some washing dishes, 
and others smoking and talking ; in fact, the whole 
building had on its every day appearance, and no one 
would have supposed that there had been the least dis- 
turbance. 

It was really laughable to see the singular expres- 
sion on the faces of the guard, as they looked around upon 
the peaceful looking room. I sat in my place just at the 
head of the stairs reading, and remember that one of the 
fellows who followed the Colonel up, had his gun cocked, 
and with a good deal of bluster, said, as he reached the 
landing : " Colonel, show me any d — n Yank you want 
shot," to wdiich the Colonel replied, sternly, "Put up 
your gun, sir ; I'll let you know when I want any shoot- 
ing done." Colonel Smith, who was in command of 
the Confederate prisons at Danville, was a cool, brave 
man, and though strict in his prison regulations, was a 
humane gentleman who would not voluntarily inflict any 
unnecessary hardships upon those under his charge. 

15 



226 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

He and Col. Raulston had been great friends, and 
I l)elieve they both belonged to the Masonic order, 
Col. Smith often visiting Col. Raulston, bringing him 
books to read, and showing him many courtesies which, 
though perfectly consistent with his position, showed 
him to be a gentleman of generous impulses. In fact, I 
heard Col. Raulston say that the most distasteful duty he 
had promised to perform, was to go to Col. Smith's office 
and secure him as a prisoner. 

Guards were at once stationed about the rooms, and 
Colonel Smith proceeded up stairs where Raulston lay 
bleeding, and questioned him in regard to the aifair. 

This brave, unselfish officer, at once said. Colonel I 
am wholly responsible for all that has occurred ; I am the 
instigator of the whole plot, and no one l)ut me is to 
blame for what was attempted to be done, and I alone if 
any one, deserve the punishment for this attempted out- 
break. 

He was immediately removed to the hospital, where 
all that skillful surgery could accomplish was done to save 
his life, but the wound was of such a nature, that neither 
skillful surgery, nor tender nursing was of any avail, and 
on the 15th of December, he passed away — was mustered 
out. The shot that terminated his life, was fired by the 
guard he had disarmed, and the gun used, was the same 
one Raulston had taken from him, and had returned after 
the failure of the attempted outbreak. 

We all felt deeply mortified at the failure of our 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 227 

plot, but our greatest sorrow was occasioned by the loss 
of so gallant and beloved an officer and comrade. 

Lieut. Leyden and myself asked permission of Col. 
Smith to be allowed to go to the hospital and nurse him 
during his illness, offering to give our parole for that 
privilege. I urged, that as Col. Raulston and myself 
were both from the same place, and I was well acquainted 
with his family, it would be a source of some comfort to 
them, to know that his last moments were soothed by 
the presence of one of his comrades, who could receive 
from him his last message to loved ones far awav. 

Our request was not granted, but we were assured that 
he should have every attention shown him that was pos- 
sible, and that all that medical skill and science could 
accomplish, would be done to save his life. 

Lieutenant McGraw, who was recognized by the 
guard as the one who relieved them of their guns, while 
Colonel Raulston and General Duffie had them down on 
the floor, was placed in solitary confinement for a few 
days, and was then released without further punishment. 

It was ffreatlv feared that he would be shot for the 
prominent part he had taken in the afiiiir, and I now be- 
lieve that he would have l)een more severely punished, 
had not his dying Colonel interceded for him. There was 
one rather amusing episode in this tragic aifair, that 
caused some merriment notwithstanding the fatal ending. 

General Duffie was a Frenchman and did not speak 
very good English. While he had his man down, with 



22S IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 

his fingers firmly clutched in his throat, to prevent his 
giving the alarm, the man in his efforts to release himself 
from this uncomfortable position, made a gurgling noise, 
which some of us thought, might have caused the 
Sergeant to mistrust there was something wrong. 

The General in trying to explain, said in his broken 
English: " I try to shut off ze wind, but ze more I 
chuck ze more he holly." 

In a few days the affair blew over, and everything 
moved along as usual. I have said, that two or three 
times a day, fromfifteen to twenty prisoners were allowed 
to pass out under guard, to carry water, wood and coal, 
for use in the building. 

I was often with this squad, for I was willing to do 
the work for the sake of getting out, where I could get 
a breath of fresh air ; besides I could sometimes get a 
chance to buy something, that I could not otherwise ob- 
tain, hi going to the river for water, we passed an oven, 
where they baked the cones for casting shell over. This 
oven was large enough to hold two men, and the door 
was usually open. 

Just before dark, we would go out to bring water 
for the night. Some would have one pail, and some two. 
In coming back, we would halt when the head of the 
column reached the oven, and sit our pails down to rest, 
and while some one in the rear would attract the atten- 
tion of the guard, one man at the head would slip into 
the oven, and the man next to him would take up his 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 229 

pail, and his al)sence would not be noticed, as they never 
counted us on these occasions. When darkness came 
on, those who had thus escaped would quietly cross the 
river and walk away. 

To prevent them missing the absent, a hole was cut 
through the floor of the upper room, and as soon as the 
Sergeant was through counting those on the lower floor, 
a numlier corresponding to those who had escaped, would 
be shoved up through this hole to be counted again on 
the upper floor ; thus keeping our count all right. A 
crowd would always be around the hole up stairs, so that 
the Sergeant upon going up would not see what w^as go- 
ing on. 

One fellow had his blanket spread over this hole, 
and would be lying down there when the guard reached 
the room, so that it would have a natural appearance, and 
would not attract any more attention than any other 
part of the room. In this way some six or seven made 
their escape, and the count was kept all right, by sending 
a corresponding numlier up through the hole in the floor^ 
and they were not missed for two or three weeks. In 
fact the only reason we had to believe that they had been 
missed at all was, that one day the reb Sergeant brought 
up his guard and counted us over a second time, and after 
figuring up the count, counted us over again, and seemed 
to still be unsatisfied, and repeated the count seven or 
eight times. Every time the count came out all right, 
which seemed to puzzle and perplex him terribly. He 



230 IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 

could not understand how it could be, that he still had 
his full number of prisoners, while he seemed to have 
positive evidence that half a dozen had escaped. His 
information was that several had escaped, but his figures 
told him that we were all there. 

Every time he counted us and found us all present, 
his perplexity increased; for he seemed to have proven 
the falsity of the old saying, " that figures can't lie." He 
finally concluded to fall us in on both floors at once, and 
then he found he was short six or seven prisoners. This 
seemed to puzzle him worse than ever, and I don't be- 
lieve he has up to this day found out, just how the thing 
was done. He certainly had not at the time we left Dan- 
ville. After this there was no eifort made to have the 
count overrun, and the use of that hole in the floor was 
abandoned. 

All the time the different counts were going on, the 
officers, who of course understood perfectly well what all 
the fuss was about, were laughing and joking at the ex- 
pense of the perplexed Sergeant, telling him that it 
seemed to be as much enjoyment to him to count Yankee 
prisoners, as it was for a miser to count his gold ; asking 
all sorts of questions and offering all sorts of suggestions 
to tease and annoy him. 

As he would call upon us to fall in again for count, 
some one would say, "well Sergeant what was the matter 
that time"? Was there too many of us or not enough f 
What kind of an arithmetic did you study when you went 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 231 

to school? Let me figure that up for you. This is a 
new military rule you adopt, turning out the guard every 
time the Sergeant comes in." Others would say as they 
saw him coming up stairs again, "turn out the guard for 
the commanding officer !" " Turn out the guard for the 
officer of the day !" Others would attempt to l)eat the 
long roll on the floor, with sticks of stove wood, or try 
to whistle, " Boots and Saddles," or the assembly. In 
fact they all seemed to try to see how exasperating they 
could be. 

The Sergeant, who by the way was a clever fellow, 
courteous and gentlemanly in his demeanor towards us, 
took all of this chaffing, with as good a grace as possible. 

He tried hard to conceal his perplexity and the an- 
noyance our joking caused him, and with a determined 
look that seemed to say, "I'll unravel this mystery if it 
takes all day," kept up the count until it came out as he 
wanted it to, or as he seemed to know it ought to come 
out. 



232 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

BORROWING SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS OF A REB. 

Along in January, 1865, I began to get short of 
money, and as the jewehy, watches, etc., were about 
played out, I was in danger of being obliged to suspend, 
for want of stock to sell from. Just at this time, the reb 
Sergeant came in one day and inquired if any one had 
greenbacks, they wished to exchange for Confederate 
money. 

He came to our mess, as it was the one most likely 
to be able to accommodate him, and said there was a 
gentleman outside who would give seven hundred dollars 
in Confederate for one hundred in greenbacks, or, if we 
had not the currency, a check on Riggs & Co.'s bank, of 
Washington, D. C., would be accepted, provided we 
would write a letter and give it to him, asking our friends 
at home to deposit the amount there, stating that we had 
drawn a check for one hundred dollars on that bank, to 
subsist ourselves while in prison. 

I took seven hundred dollars of him and Lieuten- 
ant Leyden of my mess, took the same amount, just to 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 233 

accommodate him ; and I wrote the required letter to 
my wife, while Leyden wrote one to his brother, in 
Rochester, N. Y. These checks and letters were given 
by him to General Hayes, who had been ordered to 
Richmond, as was supposed, for exchange ; and who 
agreed to l)ring them through the lines, and forward the 
letters to their address, and deposit the checks with 
Riggs & Co. When I got all this money I was flush 
again ; and distributed it around among my friends and 
comrades, ten dollars to one, and twenty to another, as 
their necessities seemed to warrant, keeping what I 
thought would do me until I got out, or could make 
another raise. 

I laid in quite a stock of provisions for myself, and 
helped those of my friends who had no money, and needed 
something more than the rations they drew to live upon. 

Colonel Smith had estabhshed a rule, that three 
officers could go every day, under a guard of two soldiers, 
to visit their friends in the hospital, a mile or so distant, 
by applying for permission by letter to him. Applica- 
tions for this priviledge would be tiled, and permission 
granted wdien their turn came ; it might be a week after 
the application was filed, before we could go. Lieuten- 
ant Leyden, myself and another, made our application, 
and waited for our turn, to take a walk of a couple ot 
miles in the open air; for this was really alb we wished 
to d(j. We were called out one day soon after, and with 
two guards over us, strolled over to the hospital, which 



234 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

was about a mile from where we were confined. We 
had a nice walk, and as we were returning, we asked 
the guard to take us into a saloon, where we could get 
a drink before we went back to jirison. 

The guard did not know whether they would be 
allowed to do this, but meeting an officer they asked him, 
if it would be right to go with us. Why of course, said 
he, take them wherever they want to go. They then 
took us into a little ten by twelve room, where there was 
a bar, and I asked all hands to have a drink. Applejack 
was the only beverage, so all five of us took that ; and 
thinking as the Governor of North Carolina, has been 
quoted as saying to the Governor of South Carolina, that 
"it's a long time between drinks," I set 'em up again. 
The guards refused to drink a second time, probably fear- 
ing that it might incapacitate them from properly guarding 
us, so I only had eight drinks to pay for altogether. We 
were not given a bottle and glasses to help ourselves as 
is usual, but the bartender poured out a wine glass full 
for each. How much do you want I asked, pulling out a 
roll of Confederate; forty dollars was his reply. I handed 
him a fifty dollar bill and receiving my change, went 
on, stopping at two or three stores on the way back to 
make other purchases. We had a jolly time that night 
and whooped things up a little, for by the time we got 
back into prison, the applejack, which was old and power- 
ful, l)eganto work, and we were just in the proper frame 
of mind to make things look cheerful to us. I am afraid 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PKIS0N8. 235 

we were somewhat annoying to some of our comrades 
who wanted to sleep that night, and not having had any 
applejack could not appreciate the fun. 

I shall never forget the Christmas dinner I ate in 
Danville prison in 1864, and I do not think any of the 
half dozen who dined with me that day, will ever forget 
it either. I bought a turkey weighing thirteen and 
three-fourths pounds for forty dollars, and took it over to 
the bake-shop to be roasted. The cooks were Union 
soldiers, who did the baking for the sake of getting 
better rations, and I got them to stuff the turkey with 
crusts of white bread, that they had baked for the rebs. 

They brought it in nicely roasted, and I managed, 
by giving one of the guards ten dollars, to get a canteen 
of applejack, and I also bought a loaf of white bread, so 
that we had quite a civilized dinner. Six of us sat down 
together, viz: General Hayes, Captain Seeley, Captain 
Albert Thomas, Lieutenant Ley den. Lieutenant Van- 
Derweed, and myself, ^'and we drank from the same 
canteen." Talk about starvation in Southern prisons I 
Why just see what a dinner six of us had that day ; and 
all it cost was about seventy dollars. We could live like 
that nearly two weeks on a thousand dollars. 

Of course every prisoner did not have the money to 
aiford these luxuries, and were obliged to put up with the 
corn bread ration, served out by the rebel authorities ; 
but the Confederate government "of course was not to 
blame if the poor boys starved, because they did not 



23() IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

have money to buy all they wanted." There was plenty 
to eat, only our boys did not have the money to buy it 
with. I never asked Riggs & Go. whether they ever 
paid that check for seven hundred dollars or not, and 
have forgotten the name of the generous hearted reb 
who loaned it to me, but this I know, that I am still in- 
debted to some one for my good fare for a month or two, 
during my last days in Danville. Now I have told you 
how I managed to get a living in Danville, and will tell 
how some others managed to get theirs. 

I have spoken of Captain H. H. Alban, who was 
my companion during the latter part of my tramp through 
South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina, and who 
was recaptured with me. The same opportunities were 
afforded him to make money enough to subsist himself, 
as were enjoyed by me, but he was not adapted to buy- 
ing and selling. He earned money enouijh to get alon^, 

O ■ O •COO' 

however, l)y hard labor. 

He would go out with the water detail once in a 
while, and when he came back he would bring along on 
his shoulder a good straight stick of cord wood. Then 
with a case knife that he had made into a saw, he would 
cut it u}) into pieces about eight inches long, and 
with wooden wedges that he had whittled out, would 
split these up fine, say about half an inch thick, and tie 
them u]) into bundles for cooking rations with. These 
bundles would l)e about six inches in diameter and eight 
inches long, which he would sell for two dollars each. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 237 

By being economical, one of these bundles of hard 
wood splinters, (they were usually beach or maple) would 
last a person two or three days to cook his rations with. 

Nearly all of the cooking was done in one cpiart tin 
pails or in tin plates. 

Broken pieces of flat iron were sometimes used to 
build the tires upon, but most of the prisoners cooked on 
the stoves that were in the two rooms. 

Some of the officers in the different prisons made 
beautiful trinkets out of beef bones, such as napkin 
rings, paper cutters, crochet needles, pen holders, imita- 
tions of books, etc., and sold them to their fellow-pris- 
oners to take home with them as souvenirs of their 
prison life. 

Some of these bone-workers were skilled artists, and 
could fashion anything out of a beef bone. I have seen 
as fine a piece of work of this kind, done with the rude 
tools that the mechanic had made himself, as I have ever 
seen made with the latest and most approved machinery. 
Carving of the most excpiisite patterns, and in beautiful 
desiofns could be seen in one of these collections. 

I remember of seeing one napkin-ring carved out in 
open work, connected with a continuous vine with beauti- 
ful clusters of grapes, the price of which was $100. I 
bought, and brought home with me, %>35 worth of these 
trinkets. 

A number of us belonging to five or six different 
messes bought a small cook stove for which we paid, I 



238 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

believe, a hundred or a hundred and fifty dollars. There 
were two griddle holes in it and a small oven in which 
one loaf of bread could be baked at a time. It was an 
old affair that here would not bring more than it would 
come to as old iron, but to us it was a great treasure. 
We arranged among ourselves to take turns cooking upon 
it, tor instance one would have the first use of it one day, 
and then the next day he would be the last to use it, and 
so each in their turn would have the first chance to cook 
for one day. 

Those who had the last chance would have a pretty 
late breakfast, dinner and supper, for it would take each 
one at least half an hour to get a meal. Those who had 
no means of cooking their rations, would come and beg 
the privilege of setting their tin cups on our stove to 
warm their coffee, which was usually made out of burnt 
rye or peas, and sometimes of scorched wheat bran. 

Every morning the whole surface of the stove would 
be covered with these tin cups during the whole time the 
stove was in use ; and even after the different messes had 
all got through it would be engaged by outside parties 
for nearly the whole day, each taking their turns in the 
order that their applications were made. Of course those 
who owned a share in the stove always took precedence 
if they wished to do any extra cooking or baking during 
the day. We often used to make griddle cakes for break- 
fast, either out of our corn bread rations soaked up in 
water with a Httle corn meal added, or mixed up with 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 239 

flour and water with sometimes an etjo- stirred in if we 
could aiford it, but as eggs were twelve to fifteen dollars 
a dozen this expensive hixurj was dispensed with most 
of the time. 

The two large Peckham stoves for warming the 
room were always in use, the boys hanging their pails 
hy hooked wires against the hot sides so that, especially 
in the morning, they would be completely encircled with 
these hanging pails, and there would always be a crowd 
waiting for the next chance. Some would hold their 
cups by the handle against the stove, changing hands 
whenever it became too hot, and others would stand, 
holding a pail out on a stick run through the bale. 

Quarrels were frequent over their turns, for all were 
tenacious of their rights, and there, as here, some were 
always ready for a quarrel, and very jealous of their 
rights and watchful lest they were tresi3assed upon. 

There were at least three artists in this Danville 
prison, viz : Captain Albert Thomas, who now has a 
studio in Syracuse, N. Y., Lieutenant VanDerweed and 
another, whose name I do not now remember; but al- 
most every prisoner who was confined in Danville, will 
remember him as the officer who was once sent down the 
river from Richmond for exchange, but who, while pass- 
ing Fort Fisher, was detected by the Confederate officer 
in charge, in making a sketch of that fortification, and re- 
turn to prison. He was finally paroled with the rest of us, 
and we chaffed him considerable while we were going 



240 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

down the river, some of the l)oys teasing him to make 
them a sketch of the Reb iroii-clads in the river, or of 
Fort Fisher. 

Lieutenant VanDerweed made a nmnber of sketches 
of prison scenes and some fine pencil sketches of officers. 
He also went outside to make pencil sketches of Con- 
federate gentlemen and ladies, and while thus engaged, 
of course, lived well and enjoyed pleasant society. 

Captain Albert Thomas was solicited to do the same, 
but said in his expressive way, that he would starve and 

see all the rebs in (he mentioned some warm 

climate) before he would make a picture of one of them. 
He made some excellent pencil sketches of different 
officers in the prison and among them one of Colonel 
W. C. Ranlston, who met so sad a fate in the attempted 
outbreak on the Tenth of December, 1864, but this 
sketch unfortunately, was lost. 

He also made a good one of myself, from wliich I 

have procured a cut for this volume, and which I highly 

prize. 

There were also in Danville, as in other prisons 

where I was confined, sutlers who l)ought provisions of 
the Johnnies and sold to their comrades at a profit. They 
would buy two or three pounds of bacon of the Johnnies 
and cut it up into small pieces of about two ounces each, 
and sell these to their comrades, who either had not 
money enough to buy more, or were too fond of their own 
comfort to go down stairs at eleven o'clock at night to 
buy of the guard. 




PENCIL SKETCH OF AUTHOR, BY THOMAS, AT DANVILLE. 



16 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 243 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

On the 17th of February we were ordered to get 
ready to leave for Richmond for exchange. The order 
was received witli the most extravagant demonstrations 
of joy ; officers who had heretofore been sedate and 
gloomy, throwing their arms around each other in the 
wildest excitement. Some laughed and shouted, some 
wept for joy, while others gave vent to their feelings by 
singing " Rally 'Round the Flag," "The Red, White and 
Blue," " The Star Spangled Banner," and other patriotic 
songs. All were jubilant, all were happy, and all were 
excited. With buoyant hearts and happy faces the prepar- 
ations to move were made. Not having many possessions, 
everything was soon in readiness, and never was the order 
to fall in obeyed with greater alacrity, or with more 
cheerfulness, than was the order of the Reb Sergeant 
that morning at Danville. 

Soon we were all comfortably (?) seated in the 
sweetly perfumed cattle cars, and were flying towards 
Richmond at the rate of twelve miles an hour. On to 



244 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

Richmond, was shouted by the jubilant prisoners, as we 
started from Danville. 

The next day we were ushered into that notorious 
prison hell of the South, Libby prison, presided over by 
the ecpially notorious Dick Turner. While at Danville 
one ofHcer was shot in the hand, by the guard, who tired 
at random through the window, because one of the 
officers accidentally spilled some water on the window sill, 
and it ran down upon him. Major D. Golden Ruggles, 
died in the hospital, and Lieutenants Baily, Quigley, 
Harris, Helm and Davis, escaped by means of the oven 
heretofore described. How many of the nearly two 
thousand enlisted men in Danville died, I have no means 
ol knowing, but the mortality was not as great there as 
in Salisbury. Libby prison, and the treatment of federal 
prisoners there, has been so frequently described that I 
will not attempt a description. 

I was there but a short time, but was told by those 
who had been there before, that Dick Turner seemed to 
be on his good behatior, and was evidently thinking of 
the day of reckoning. 

We found Libby prison nearly tilled with our en- 
listed men, whose emaciated forms told more plainly than 
words could possibly do, the terrible sufferings they had 
endured. They were confined in separate rooms from 
us, but we managed to pass them provisions through the 
openings in the partition, and also to converse with them. 
We were shown where and how the wonderful tunnel 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 24:5 

that secured freedom to quite a number of officers, and 
came near setting the whole prison at hl^erty, was started 
and where it ended. We were shown Castle Thunder, 
which at one time contained a number of prisoners, and 
where I believe Dr. Mary Walker, of Oswego, was at one 
time confined. 

While at Richmond, General Hayes came in to see 
us, and said he was detailed to distribute the clothing to 
our men, which our government had sent for them, and 
as we would be home before he would, he gave us, Lieut. 
Leyden and myself, the letters and checks we had given 
to the old reb at Danville, in exchange for fourteen hun- 
dred dollars in Confederate money. And, shall I confess 
it, in a fit of absent-mindedness (!) I tore them up and 
threw them into the stove, thus saving the bother of 
taking them to Riggs & Co., at Washington. I have 
forgotten the old gentleman's name who so greatly lie- 
friended me l)y giving me such a liberal supply of money 
which, although worthless to him, served to supply my- 
self and a mimber of my comrades, with the best the 
Confederacy afforded, for the balance of our stay in 
rebel dom. 

Our stay in Richmond was of short duration, but we 
left it without regret. 

On the twentieth of February, w^e were again 
ordered to " pack up," and this time for home. I can- 
not describe the wild tumult of joy with which the order 
was received. Many of the enlisted men, who with us 



24:6 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

occupied the building, though in a separate appartment, 
and to whom we had managed to smuggle some of our 
rations, were too weak to walk alone, and were obliged 
to walk between two of their comrades, who supported 
them to the boat and tenderly cared for them. Their 
emaciated forms and lusterless eyes, told a painful story 
of the starvation and suffering they had endured for the 
preservation of their country, and for their loyalty to the 
flag. 

And yet there are those even here in the North, 
who grew rich through their sufferings, who begrudge 
them the beggarly pittance of a pension of a few dollars 
a month, to keep them from the poor house; when, by 
their heroic fortitude, and their indescribable sufferings, 
they made it possible for the bonds of the government to 
be worth a hundred cents on the dollar in gold; made it 
possible for these very men to be to-day enjoying the 
luxury of wealth in a happy and prosperous land; to be 
citizens of a country whose treasury is overflowing to 
such an extent that the President of the United States 
has deemed it necessary to cry out in alarm, that the 
country is in danger from a too plethoric treasury. 
These same heroic souls who twenty-five years ago, by 
their loyalty to the old flag, and whose patriotic devotion 
to the principles of universal freedom, led them to offer 
themselves upon the altar of their country, if they escaped 
a horrible death by starvation and are still living, are 
looked upon by many who profited so largely hy their 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 247 

sacrifices, as beggars, because they ask to be remunerated 
for their shattered health, by a small pittance of ten or 
twelve dollars a month, to assist them in their old age 
and decrepitude. 

On the morning of the 20th of February, 1865, the 
last ration of corn bread was issued, and I determined to 
preserve mine and bring it home to show to my friends. 
This I did, and have kept it ever since. It was twenty- 
three years old the 20th of February, 1888, and is still 
in a fair state of preservation, and on every anniversary 
of its issue to me, that old Lil:)by prison ration and I 
have a little celebration, and revive old memories. 

We were placed on board river steamers, which 
were skillfully piloted around the numerous torpedoes 
that had been sunk for the destruction of our gun-boats, 
should they attempt to assist in the capture of Richmond, 
and past the iron-clad monsters that were stationed all 
along for the protection of that rebel stronghold, and were 
conveyed to Yarina landing, where, as we disembarked, 
we were met by an equal number of rebs who had been 
prisoners in our hands, and who returned on the same 
boats that took us down. 

The contrast in the looks and appearances of these 
gray-backs and our poor boys, was painfully apparent. 
They were in robust health, full of life and vitality, and 
fit to at once take the field again, while our boys were 
scarcely able, many of them, to climb up the bank at the 
landing, without assistance. While they showed the 



248 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

effects of rest and plenty of wholesome food, our poor 
comrades showed equally the terrible effects of starvation 
and disease. They were in excellent condition to again 
at once go into active service, while we would need 
months of careful nursing, before any of us could again 
endure the hardships of camp life ; and a large proportion, 
were forever broken in health, and would never again be 
able to perform the duties of a soldier. 

We still had a march of six miles to make, before 
we reached the Union lines. Ambulances were in wait- 
ing, to convey those who were too feeble to endure the 
march, and the rest of us who had strength enough left, 
trudged along on foot. 




IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 24:9 



CHAPTER XXYIL 

The march from the landing to the headquarters of 
General John E. Mulford, was through a swampy piece 
of ground and the road was muddy, but, with freedom 
ahnost in sight, we tramped along cheerfully, with buoyant 
steps and hopeful hearts, singing snatches of army songs, 
though we were still inside the lines of the enemy. After 
a march of about live miles we passed the reb picket 
line, and about three hundred yards ahead, saw once 
more floating in the breeze, on a tall flag staff, the glorious 
old banner for whose defence we had suffered so long 
and so fearfully. 

When the head of the column came under the 
shadow of " Old Gtlory," l^oth our cheers and our old 
dilapidated hats went heavenward with all the velocity 
that we were able to impart to them. Some were too 
feeble to more than faintly whisper their greeting to the 
dear old flag they loved so dearly, while tears of joy at- 
tested the genuineness of their affection for that l)eauti- 
ful emblem of liberty, the sight of which had so long 
been denied them. 



250 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

I never before realized how mucli I loved the dear 
old stars and stripes, or how much protection there was 
beneath its shining folds. How I longed to press it to 
my heart and lips. And not me alone, but of the nearly 
two thousand skeletons who that day saw it proudly 
waving high over their heads for the first time in many 
months ; there were few indeed who would not have fer- 
vently kissed and caressed it had it been within their 
reach. As a mother's love goes out to her first born 
that has come to her amid suffering and pain, so that old 
flag seemed a thousand fold more beautiful and precious 
to us, for the sufferings and privations we had passed 
through in its defence. 

Cheer after cheer went up as the straggling column 
passed along, feeble hands were waived, and feeble voices 
joined in the huzzahs, with which we celebrated our re- 
turn to " God's country." 

Arriving at General Mulford's headquarters, we 
were obliged to wait two or three hours for a boat to 
take us down the river. Once on board the steamer, 
our first thought was for a good square meal. 

But, alas! a meal on board that steamer cost a dol- 
lar, and Confederate money was no good there. 

A comrade whom I had befriended, however, in- 
vited me to take dinner with him, which invitation you 
may be sure I readily accepted ; and for the first time in 
many months, sat down to a regular dinner of roast beef, 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 251 

Irish potatoes, bread and butter, and a genuine cup of 
coffee. 

On the morning of Sunday, the 22d of February, we 
arrived at Annapolis. As the steamers were approach- 
ing the wharf, a band which had come down to welcome 
us, struck up "Home, Sweet Home." Involuntarily 
every officer took off his hat and bowed his head, as 
though receiving a benediction, so impressively solemn 
sounded that sweet, familiar tune just then. 

Arriving at parole camp, the first person I met 
whom I knew, was Captain Eastmond, who escaped with 
me at Columbia, and who was recaptured the next night. 

He told me that a few days after my escape, my 
name was called for special exchange, and he answered 
to my name, signed my name to the parole, and had been 
out nearly three months. 

As soon as he reached Greneral Mulford's headquar- 
ters he told him of the deception he had practiced, and 
the General told him it was all right and as soon as he 
could find out where I was he would send another special 
for me. But I, in blissful ignorance of what my friends 
were trying to accomplish in my behalf, was being shifted 
from one place to another, so that he did not get track of 
me again. The first thing I did upon my arrival at 
Annapolis, was to hunt up the store of the Ladies' Sani- 
tary Commission, and get a complete outfit from head to 
foot, for which they would take no pay, and then getting 
a room in a hotel, I stripped off my lousy rags, and after 



252 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

taking a good l)atli, dressed myself in my new suit, throw- 
ing my old prison garments out of a window into an alley, 
thus effectually ridding myself from the annoying compan- 
ions that had so persistently stuck by me during my im- 
prisonment. I parted with them without a sigh, and have 
never to this day had a desire to renew their acquaintance. 

I then applied for a twenty day's leave and wrote a 
long letter home, giving a brief synopsis of my experience 
in the prisons of rebeldom for the last ten months. This 
letter I directed to my wife, though I did not know 
whether she was dead or living, not having heard a word 
from her since parting with her at Plymouth, on the night 
of the first day's fight. After waiting a week I received 
my leave of absence, and at once started for home. I 
found that my letters had nearly all been^ received and 
promptly answered, but they were never delivered to me. 
I can never be made to believe but that our letters were 
purposely destroyed hy order of General Winder, as a 
part of his plan to discourage and dishearten us, well 
knowinor how much this would do towards undermining 
our health and destroying our lives. 

I was home for days before I could feel fully assured 
that I was really out of prison ; fearing all the time that 
it was only one of those vivid dreams that had so often 
come to me while there, and fearing lest I should awake 
and find myself still surrounded by stockades and rebel 
guards, often I would stop and pinch myself to see if I 
w^ere reall}' awake, and at home among friends. 



• IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 253 

Upon tlie expiration of my twenty days' leave, I 
returned to my regiment near Goldsboro, (having been 
exchanged) and was just in ^time to assist in taking 
in the North Carohna troops of Johnson's army, and 
seeing the conquered rebels lay down their arms, deject- 
ed and subdued, and seemingly heartily rejoiced, that 
the fearful struggle was finally at an end. 

I reached Albany on my way back to Annapolis, on 
the ord day of April, and there first learned of the 
evacuation of Ribhmond. The first person I met whom 
I knew, as I disembarked from the cars near the Delavan 
House, was Hon. Elias Root, then Member of Assembly 
from Oswego Co. He saluted me with, "hello Cooper, 
you here and sober! Haven't you heard that Richmond 
has fallen? The orders are that any man found sober 
here after four o'clock will be arrested." This comino- 
as it did from a staunch temperance man, and an active 
and consistent christian, was a stunner ; and I apolo- 
gized by saying that I had just arrived in Albany and 
had not yet been able to comply with the order, but 
would attend to it immediately. I managed to avoid 
being arrested that day, for I had seen enough of prison 
life and did not care to be deprived of my liberty again 
so soon. ' 

Proceeding to Washington and then back to Annap- 
olis, and from there back to Newbern, via the Kere- 
tuck canal, I immediately joined my regiment at Mosley 
Hall, near Goldsboro, and reported for duty. 



254 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

A few days after my return to headquarters we re- 
ceived the joyful news of the surrender of General Lee, 
at Appomattox, on the 9th of April. This news was re- 
ceived with great demonstrations of joy by every one, and 
was celebrated with the wildest enthusiasm. About this 
time I was ordered to Camp Palmer, near Newbern, on 
some business, and saw an order posted, of which the 
following is substantially a copy : 

Headquarters Department, &c. 
General Orders, No. — . 

The news having reached the headquarters of this 
department that General Lee surrendered the army of 
Virginia to General U. S. Grant on the \)th inst. at Ap- 
pomattox Court House, the following order is promul- 
gated. 

1st. Any soldier found sober after four o'clock to-day 
will, if an enlisted man, be confined in the guard house, 
and if an officer, will be placed in arrest and charges 
preferred against him. By order of 

Gen. Palmer. 

[Signed.] A. A. Judson, Capt. & A. A. G. 

I also found Capt. Judson at Camp Palmer to see 
that the order was properly enforced. I will only add 
that there were no arrests made under that order. 

Upon joining my company I found Captain R. B. 
Hock, who had escaped with me at Columbia, and with 
whom I had parted from in the suburbs of Greenwood, S.C., 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 255 

when I started out to find the cabin of " Free Mitchell," 
and whom I had not seen or heard from since that time. 

The meeting was a joyful one to both, and Captain 
Hock related to me the experience, of himself and Lieut. 
Winner after we separated. 

They took a route more to the east, and after walk- 
ing about three hundred and fifty miles, which took 
them, I think, about twenty-one days altogether, they 
came out at Marysville, Tenn., where they struck the 
Union lines, and were, after resting a few days, sent on 
to Washington, and from there to join their respective 
regiments. 

Captain Hock afterwards participated in the battle 
of Wise's Forks and was there again taken prisoner, but 
escaped the same night and walked through to Plymouth, 
N. C, the scene of the battle where we were both taken 
hy General Hoke a year before. 

Plymouth at this time was again in possession of the 
Union forces, and from there he again went to Newbern. 
He was subsequently made a prisoner again during 
another engagement near Goldsboro with Johnson's army, 
and again succeeded in making his escape, and after a 
long and tedious march once more reached his regiment. 

When he came back this time the regiment was 
just out for dress parade, and Colonel J. W. Savage had 
him accompany him out in front of tlie line, where 
he introduced him to the command as the Gkeasy 
Captain. 



256 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS, 

Company F., Captain R. B. Hock, of which I was 
1st Lieutenant, was for a time thereafter stationed at 
Kinston, N. C, and after taking the paroled men of 
Johnson's army, reheving them of their arms, but leaving 
them their ''critters," we joined the regiment again and 
were encamped for a while at Groldsboro, and then 
marched to Tarboro, which place I had not visited before 
since I passed through there in April, 1864, a prisoner 
of war. Here I was placed in command of Company D, 
Captain Turner of that company having been detailed 
for duty in the Freedman's Bureau. 

We remained in Tarboro until the middle or latter 
part of July, and while there I assisted in disinterring 
the remains of five of my comrades, of the 12th N. Y, 
Cavalry, who were killed in a charge near that place in 
July, 1863, and give them a christian burial. 

The following letter, which was written at the time 
and was ])iil)lished in the city papers, gives a l)rief de- ■ 
scription of the funerals: 

Camp Near Tarboro, X. C, May 17, 1865. 
Mr. Samuel Miller : 

My Dear Sir — I have just returned from assisting iu performing the last 
sad duties to the heroes who fell in the gallant charge near this place in July, 
1863. I personally superintended the disinterment of the bodies, and readily 
recognized your brave boy by his hair, teeth, and the shape of his head. I 
also recognized the body of William Davis. Capt. Simeon Church was there, 
and recognized his twin brother, Capt. Cyrus Church, and others who were 
present recognized the others. 

Six were buried in one grave, and all were in a perfectly nude state, the 
fiendish brutes having appropriated to their own use every article of wearing 
apparel. We had a coffin made for each one. When disinterred they were 
placed iu coffins made of white wood, and their names written (m the covers. 
The bodies were brought into camp, when the funeral procession was formed 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 257 

in the following order, viz : First, the regimental baud ; next, forty men 
mounted on white horses, with drawn sabres ; next, the chaplain; next, the 
ambulauee, with the bodies of Capt. Cyrus Church, and Sergt. John P. Miller 
and William Davis, with sis officers acting as pall bearers bv the side ; next 
the officers of the regiment ; next twelve men mounted on bay horses, with 
drawn sabres and commanded by a Sergeant ; next the ambulance containing 
the bodies of S. Mulligan, H. Rood and David Carl, and in the rear the dis- 
mounted men of the regiment. 

At 2 o'clock the procession moved with sabres reversed, the band playing 
a solemn dirge, and marched to a beautiful burying ground in the village, 
where the Episcopal burial service was read by Chaplain Palmer of our regi- 
ment. We are thankful that we have at last had the mournful privilege of 
giving a christian burial to our fallen comrades. 

Appropriate headboards were placed at the graves. The coffins were 
made small enough to be placed in other coffins for removal. I shall do all I 
can to send the remains of your son home, and if Captain Church sends his 
brother, I will send yoiir son with him. 1 send you a lock of Johnny's hair, 
and some of the hair of "Wm. Davis, which please give to his wife. 

Deeply sympathizing with you and your family I remain. 

Tour obedient servant, 

A. Cooper, 
1st Lieutenant, Commanding D Troop, 12th N. T. Cavalry. 

From Tarboro the 12tli Cavalry were moved to 
Raleigh, N. C, where we made up our returns and turned 
over our horses, and were then mustered out of the 
service. 

From Raleiofh we made the march to Petersburs:!!, 
and from there to City Point, where we took steamers for 
New York. We were sent to Hart's Island, where we 
were paid off and were soon at home again. 



i7 



258 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

MORE ABOUT CHARLESTON— EXCHANGE ON THE BRAIN— MORE ABOUT MACON- 
CHARLESTON JAIL YARD MORE FULLY DESCRIBED— THE OLD PRIVY— THE 
GALLOWS OR GIBBET— TERRIBLE SUFFERING FOR WANT OF FOOD AND 
SHELTER— A FIRE AND HOW GILLMAN HELPED IT ALONG. 

We remained in Charleston thirteen days^ viz., from 
September 13th until the 26th, and it was thirteen days 
of intense suffering to many, and of great discomfort to 
all. 

This jail yard itself was filthy to a fearful degree, 
and was enough to create an epidemic. An old privy 
occupied the south-west corner of the ground, the vault 
of which overflowed into the yard and emitted an effluvia 
that would be certain to create disease, even in an other- 
wise healthy locality. We petitioned to have this nuis- 
ance abated, and after a week or more, upon the recom- 
mendation of Dr. Todd, who was tlie attending physician, 
and who tried to do all within his power to render our 
situation more bearal)le, some men were sent in one night 
to tear down the old privy and clean out the vault. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 259 

This took all night and most of the next day, and 
during that time, Charleston jail yard was the most re- 
volting place that civilized humanity ever occupied and 
lived. 

As I have said, there were only fifty ^' A " tents to 
accommodate six hundred officers and, as not over two 
hundred and fifty could possibly be crowded into these, 
there were three hundred and fifty officers without shelter 
of any kind, and as the weather part of the time was 
rainy, the suflfering among those was fearful and a fright- 
ful mortality must have ensued, had we been compelled 
to have remained there much longer. As it was, I have 
no doubt that the germs of disease were planted there 
that afterwards cropped out in some form, and perhaps 
in many cases resulted in broken constitutions, and even 
death. 

Another prolific source of suffering was the lack of 
fuel with which to cook our scanty rations. 

In our extremity we broke up the lumber of the 
old privy that had been torn down, and tried to cook 
with that; but as the pails we used to cook in were 
mostly without covers, and the old lumber was so thor- 
oughly permeated with the filth it had so many years 
covered, that the rations thus cooked were too revolting 
to the stomach to be eaten. 

The ground of the jail yard was a sandy loam, and 
the yard having been occupied by prisoners for a long 
time, was actually alive with vermin, with which we 



260 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PKISONS. 

were soon supplied to an extent that was discouraging 
to tliose who had any ideas of cleanhness. 

In the centre of the yard was a gallows, which had 
evidently been erected for a long time, and had probably 
done considerable service. This was a post about 
twenty-five feet high, vi^ith a horizontal arm extending 
out about eight feet ; at the extreme end of this arm and 
also at the top of the 2:)0st where the arm joined it, there 
were pulleys for a rope to run through. A weight at the 
end of the rope running down tlie posts, acted as a drop 
to elevate the body of the victim from the ground and 
lifted him towards the end of the extending arm. This 
gallows we cut down and used for fuel. Dr. Todd, as I 
have said was the prison physician, and was, I believe, a 
brother of Mrs. President Lincoln. 

Reader, do you wonder that we were willing to give 
our parole not to escape, for the privilege of exchanging 
this loathsome and pest breeding jail yard, for good, 
healthy, clean quarters, where we could have all of the 
facilities for cleanliness, such as were offered to us? 

About the 1st of October a fire broke out just after 
noon, about six or eight hundred yards to the north-east 
of where we were then confined, on Broad street, over- 
looking the bay. 

As the alarm was sounded, we gathered upon the 
piazzas to watch its progress. We could see the firemen 
dragging their apparatus to the fire, and were watching 
their preparations to extinguish it, when suddenly, we 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 261 

heard the flimiliar boom of Gihnore's ''Swamp Angel," 
and presently saw a shell explode among a group of fire- 
men, who hastily scattered in every direction. 

Shell after shell dropped into the burning building, 
or exploded among those who were endeavoring to ex- 
tinguish the flames, and for a time it looked as though 
another terrible conflagration was inevitable. 

When a well directed shell would drop in, and ex- 
plode where the firemen were at work and scatter them, 
we would send up a cheer that must have been heard 
where the flames were raging. 

Citizens gathered upon the flat roofs of their dwell- 
ings and watched the conflict, between the Charleston 
firemen on one side, and the crackling flames and General 
Gilmore's liatteries on Morris Island, on the other. 

I saw a man and woman upon their roof near the 
burning building, and when the shells began to drop in 
pretty thick and fast, and some of them most uncomfort- 
ably near to where they stood, the gentleman seemed to 
suddenly think of some duty he was obliged to attend to 
below, while the lady pluckily staid it out. The won- 
derful accuracy with which General Gilmore sent those 
immense projectiles into any part of the city, from his 
batteries on Morris Island, five miles away, was simply 
astonishing. He seemed to be able to drop them just 
where he pleased and there was no time, day or night, 
when the citizens of that doomed city had not good reason 
to expect that they might receive one of Gilmore's com- 



262 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

pliments, as we used to call them. While we were 
waiting in the Broad Street House for the order to start 
for Columbia, after we had got all packed up, the officers 
commenced writing their names on the wall near where 
they had slept, and being in rather a poetical mood just 
then, I took my pencil and wrote on the wall in the cor- 
ner where my quarters had been, the following : 

I have slept iu this corner for many a night, 

A prisoner of war in a pitiful plight, 

I have ate my corn dodger, my bacon and rice. 

And have skirmished my shirt and my drawers for lice. 

Here's health to Jefi' Davis and bad may it be. 
May mercy and pardon afar from him flee, 
Ma}^ he find, when too late, to his sorrow and cost, 
That not only the Confederacy, but Heaven he's lost. 




IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 263 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

EXCHANGE ON THE BRAIN. 

Many of the prisoners were afflicted to a greater or 
less extent, with what was termed exchange on the brain. 

This disease would manifest itself in various ways, 
and different persons would be differently affected by it. 

I remember numerous cases of this malady, (for it 
really was a malady) in the different prisons. Persons 
thus afflicted, would improve every opportunity to inform 
themselves of the prospects of there being an exchange 
of prisoners, and every paper they got hold of would be 
carefully scanned for exchange news, and whenever they 
came across an article on this subject ever so vague and 
unsatisfactory, they would pore over it, and try to con- 
strue it as an evidence that an exchange would soon take 
place. 

If papers were not to l)e had they would stroll 
around the camp, stopping to talk with any one that 
could be induced to listen to them, about what they had 
heard on this subject, and try to hear something that 
they could console themselves with, and in their peram- 



264 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

bulations about the grounds, their whole and only theme 
was " Exchange." Should those they met commence 
talking upon any other subject, they were uninterested 
and would, as soon as possible, change the subject to the 
prospects for exchange. 

The first question they would ask upon meeting an 
acquaintance would be, " Do you hear anything about 
exchange ? " Should they find two or three officers 
talking together, especially if they seemed to be talking 
rather earnestly, they would get up near enough to find 
out whether the subject under discussion was exchange. 

It .was the sul^ject of all their thoughts and conver- 
sation by day, and of their dreams by night. 

The most improbable rumors would be started in 
camp in regard to exchange, just to play upon the 
credulity of those who were afflicted with exchange on 
the brain, and they would Ijelieve them too, and would 
excitedly circulate the rumors. 

(3ne officer in Savannah, Captain Johnson, was 
afflicted badly with this malady, and could never see two 
or three officers together talking, without trying to ascer- 
tain if there was anything I)eing said about exchange. 
We used to play upon his credulity to an extent that 
was really cruel. 

While at Savannah, Col. F. C. Miller, 147th N. Y., 
was detailed as senior officer of the camp, and all com- 
munications to the commandant of the prison had to be 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 2G5 

forwarded tlirougli him, and all orders from the com- 
mandant to us were received through him. 

Being very intimate with Col. Miller, I was sup- 
posed, next to him, to he the most probable one to 
know what was going on. The Colonel had made a 
backgammon l^oard, and we used to sit in his tent and 
play a good deal of the time. 

Captain Johnson and I both belonged to the same 
squad, which was designated as No. 9. One evening, I 
had l)een up to Colonel Miller's tent until quite late, and 
when I returned, the squad had all retired. As I came 
to my tent, which was just opposite Capt. Johnson's, I 
said to my tent-mates somewhat excitedly, and in a tone 
loud enough for Johnson to hear : "Well, boys, I have 
now got some news that is reliable. I just came from Col. 
Miller's tent, and the Colonel told me that Col. Smith 
told him — " here I dropped my voice so that Johnson 
could not hear. In a second Johnson jumped out of 
bed and came across the street, minus everything but 
liis night clothes, and asked excitedly : " What did Col, 
Miller tell you I" '^ Well," said I, " Col. Miller told me 
that No. 9 squad would be detailed to police the camp 
to-morrow." 

Johnson, without saying a word, returned to his 
bunk amid the roars of laughter from the whole squad. 
I know it was cruel, to laugh at, and play jokes upon 
men who were half insane upon the subject. There 



266 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

were those who were clearly insane upon the subject of 
exchange, and were really to be pitied. 

A Captain, whose name I have forgotten, became 
perfectly insane while we were at Savannah, and I think 
he died while in prison. At first those who noticed his 
peculiar actions thought he was playing a dodge to get 
paroled and sent North, l)ut we were all soon convinced 
that the poor fellow had brooded over his imprisonment 
until his mind had completely lost its balance. 

His mind seemed to be continually dwelling upon 
exchange, and for days and weeks he could not be in- 
duced to talk upon an other subject. He would tell the 
most imj^robable stories, that no one else had heard, 
about a general exchange of prisoners that was soon to 
take place, but as such stories were continually floating 
around the camp, not much attention was paid to him, 
and if any one thought upon them at all, they looked upon 
his stories as silly canards, gotten up to fool some one 
with. 

His mind finally seemed to run to sumptuous dinners, 
and he would invite eight or ten of his prison companions 
to dine with him at a certain hour, and upon their arrival, 
they would find perhaps a half baked corn meal pome, 
that had been cooked in a dirty old wash basin, over a 
smoky fire, having been mixed up without salt or rising 
of any kind, to be the princely spread he had invited 
them to. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 267 

He would do the honors in a courteous and dignified 
manner and seem to think he was at home entertaining 
some distinguished guests in a royal manner, to a regal 
feast. 

Of course his comrades would excuse themselves 
on one pretext and another, and would leave him to en- 
joy his dinner alone. 

He would eat his pome with all the apparent relish, 
with which he woidd have partaken of a dinner such as 
he seemed to imagine he was indulging in. 

Of course, in its half-cooked condition, it would be 
not only perfectly unpalatable, but injurious to the health 
as well. When it is remembered that rumors of exchange 
were being almost weekly circulated through our camp, 
sometimes by the reb authorities in order to keep us 
from trying to escape, and sometimes I believe for very 
cussedness, the only wonder is that the majority of the 
prisoners were not driven to insanity. I have seen men 
sit moping for hours with a look of utter dejection, their 
elbow upon their knee, and their chin resting upon their 
hand, their eyes having a vacant far-away look, brooding 
over the cruel fate that placed them in the prison pen, 
and wondering why an exchange of prisoners was not 
made, and whether they would ever be released. 

On the 21st of June, 18G4, a Catholic j^riest came 
into the prison at Macon, and gave us such a harrowing 
picture of Andersonville, which place he had visited the 



^C)S IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

day before, that it made our own sufferings seem insig- 
nificant. 

He said that he passed up between two lines of 
Union dead, who had been laid there that morning by 
their comrades to be carted off to the burying ground, 
that must have numbered at least a hundred, and that he 
saw thousands there that were scarcely able to walk, or 
in many cases even to sit up. 

Some to whom he administered the last rites of the 
Catholic church, showed by the glassy expression of 
their lusterless eyes, that the grim visitor already held 
them within his grasp. 

The picture he drew of the sufferings, starvation 
and death he had witnessed there, sent a chill of horror 
to the heart of his listeners, and created a feeling of in- 
dignation that could scarcely find expression in words. 

The next day, upon the advice and recommendation 
of the Confederate authorities, two from each squad met 
in the large hall that was used for the field officers, and 
also as a sort of hospital, and drew up a petition to the 
Rebel Secretary of War, for permission for Majors Mar- 
shal, Beatie and Owen of the army, and Lieutenant Alex- 
ander, of the navy, to go to Andersonville and examine 
into the condition of the enlisted men and then proceed 
to Washington and urge upon the United States govern- 
ment a speedy exchange of prisoners. 

When it l)ecame known throughout the camp that 
such a scheme was on foot and that the petition had lieen 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PKISONS. 269 

signed by this self-constituted delegation and was about 
to be forwarded to Richmond, an indignation meeting 
was held from the steps of this building, and was ad- 
dressed by Captain Ives and others, and the action of the 
Committee was denounced, as not being in accordance 
with the sentiment of the prison camp. 

The almost unanimous sense of the meetinij was, 
that we had faith in our government and believed it was 
doing all it could do, consistent with its dignity to re- 
lieve and release us, and that we would rather suffer the 
tortures of prison life, than to harass our government 
and thereby give aid and comfort to their enemy. The 
meeting closed by our asserting our confidence in the 
wisdom and ability of our friends at the North, to do 
what was for the best interests of the country, and that 
if we could do more or better service for the country in 
prison than in the field, as good soldiers and true patriots 
it was our duty to submit to all the indignities that were 
being heaped upon us, rather than even impliedly stig- 
matize the U. S. government as being unmindful of 
our sufferings, and screen the fiendish brutes who were 
heaping all of this suffering upon us. 

While the meeting was in progress the petition was 
secretly taken out of camp by a rebel officer, who had in- 
stigated their preparation, and as we supposed, forwarded 
through to rebel Capt. Gribbs to Richmond. We never 
heard anything from the petition, and the belief was that 
the rebel authorities, seeing the indignation they had 



270 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

caused, concluded their interests would not be advanced 
hy complying with its provisions. 

To show how the large majority of oflHcers confined 
in Macon felt about how the aflairs of the government 
had been conducted under the administration of Presi- 
dent Lincoln, I quote from my diary of June 7th, 1864 : 

''This being the day upon which the Convention is 
to meet at Baltimore to nominate a candidate for Presi- 
dent, our camp went into convention and nominated 
Abraham Lincoln by a vote of 533 out of a total vote 
cast of (325." 

This was considered not only an endorsement of 
the policy pursued by the President in the prosecution 
of the war, l)ut also our approval of his exchange policy. 

We well understood that the cartel was suspended, 
because the South refused to exchange the negroes taken 
in arms, but proposed to return such soldiers to servitude, 
and we believed that as they were taken while bearing 
arms in defence of the government, that government was 
in duty bound to protect them in their rights and it was 
our duty as good soldiers to suifer and even die, if need 
be, in prison or in field, to maintain the dignity of the 
nation. 

This is why such indignation was manifested when 
we were asked to lend ourselves to the scheme of Jeff. 
Davis, to even impliedly stigmatize the authorities at 
Washington, as being derelict in their duties towards 
usj by demanding an immediate resumption of the ex- 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 271 

change cartel, unless all who wore the blue could be 
classed in the category of United States soldiers. We 
believed that all whose loyalty to the flag, had led them 
to risk their lives in its defence, whether their skin was 
white or black, were entitled to protection beneath its 
folds. 

While on the tramp with Captain Alban through the 
Confederacy, after our escape, he told me an amusing 
story about his capture at Chicamauga. He belonged to 
the 21st Ohio, and that regiment was armed with the 
Henry rifle. 

The portion of the line occupied by the 21st Ohio, 
was assaulted with determined gallantry six or seven 
times, and was every time repulsed with heavy loss. 

The Johnnies would charge with an impetuosity 
that was wonderful, and would advance until they received 
the sixth or seventh discharge from those repeating rifles, 
which shoot sixteen times without reloading, when they 
would break and fly in disorder ; receiving as they went 
back two or three more shots, before they would be out 
of range. They would again be re-formed and make 
another gallant assault, only to again be broken and 
driven back with fearful slaughter. 

After having charged, as I have said, six or seven 
times, and each time been repulsed with great loss. 
Captain Alban was taken prisoner and hurried to the 
Confederate rear. One of the privates was taken at the 
same time, and his rifle which he had just emptied, was 



272 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

examined with much curiosity by the reb who had taken 
him, whoj after looking it over thoroughly, turned to 
Alban and said, "What kind of guns do youensusel 
You load up Saturday night and shoot all the week, don't 
you?" After having learned how to handle it he thought 
it would be a good one for him, but as the soldier had 
exhausted his supply of ammunition, the piece would be 
useless until they could get some to fit it. 




IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 273 



CHAPTER XXX. 

SCOUTING IN NORTH CAROLINA— SERGEANT C IN A WELL— THE ACCIDENT 

PREVENTS A FIGHT WITH OUR OWN TROOPS— A FIGHT WITH NORTH CARO- 
LINA TROOPS— MRS. MODLIN TURNS A BACK SOMERSAULT— OUR IRISH 
LIEUTENANT. 

While at Plymouth on detached service, with "I" 
and "F" troops, we were in the habit of scouting ten to 
fifteen miles once or twice a week, sometimes in one 
direction and sometimes in another. We were sehloni 
ordered out on a scout by General Wessels, but all that 
was necessary for us to do when going out on one of these 
scouts, was to notify the General of the fact that we 
were going out on a certain road, ten or fifteen miles, at 
a certain time, and would be back about such a time. 

I have frequently taken twenty-five or thirty men 
for a scout into the country, to capture parties with loads 
of provisions for the Confederates, or to bring in some 
prisoners. 

I have mentioned two guides, Modlin and Wyn]^, 

who were in the habit of going with inc on these raids, 

and who were both taken prisoners at Plymouth, and 

escaped into the woods while on the march, after being 

18 



274 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

spotted by some of the North Carolina troops as ''Buf- 
faloes." 

These two s^uides, who were natives of North Caro- 
lina, and who knew every turpentine path through those 
immense pine forests, and who had friends outside our 
lines who kept them well posted on what was going on 
outside, while they in turn kept me posted as to the 
movements of the rebs. 

One day Wynn came to me and said that he had 
positive information that five or six loads of bacon, for 
the Confederate army, would stop over night at a certain 
house about fifteen miles south of Plymouth, on the 
Washington road, and that the guard would consist of 
ten men besides the teamsters. I immediately rode up 
to General Wessel's headquarters and told him that I 
was going to take thirty men and go out on the Wash- 
ington road at five o'clock that afternoon, and would 
return the next morning. I, as usual, procured the 
countersign for that night, so as to be able to get inside 
the picket post if I should come back in the night, and 
selecting thirty men, started at five p. m., guided by 
Wynn for the South. 

After getting out about five miles, we left the road 
and followed one of the turpentine paths through the 
woods in a parallel direction. 

It had become quite dark by this time and we pro- 
ceeded in single file, Wynn and myself riding at the head 
of the column. 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 275 

Among the men under my command that night was 

Sergeant C , a tall, powerful man, and an excellent 

soldier, whose pluck could always be rehed upon, but 
who had a great weakness for following up any noise on 
the march, especially if it sounded anything like the 
crowing of a cock, and was therefore not always in the 
line while on the march. 

We had proceeded about five miles through the 
woods when our path crossed a road at right angles, just 
at a school house. 

As we crossed the road the guide said to me, there 
is a well on our left, keep to the right a little. We 
turned a little to the right and at the same time I ordered 
the word passed down to the rear that tliere was a well 
on the left, keep to the right. This word was passed 
from one to another until it had reached the rear of the 
column. 

Now Sergeant C had stopped a little way back 

on some important business, probably connected with a 
chicken roost, and of course did not hear the caution- 
ary word and after we had passed on about two hun- 
dred yards a cry came from the rear of the column, 
C is in the well. 

I halted the column, and going back found, l)y the 

aid of a lantern we carried, that both C and his 

horse were in a dry well about ten or twelve feet deep, 
and about as wide as it was deep. There was nothing to 
do but to buckle our saddle straps together, which 



276 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

C placed under his horse, and hft it out bodily. 

and then pull C out. 

This took us half an hour, and I was fearful that 
we would not reach the house before the teams had got 
started, and we would be unable to capture the guard. 
It was just daylight when we came out on the road, 
about six hundred yards from the house, and I at once 
charged down and surrounded it. 

I secured six yoke of oxen and six loads of bacon, 
but could find no guard or teamsters. After placing my 
pickets I had some of the boys bring in a ham, and that, 
with some eggs and sweet potatoes, and a hoe cake that 
the woman cooked for us, together with some coffee, 
which we always carried with lis, made us a good break- 
fast. 

To our enquiries about the teamsters and guard, the 
woman told u^ that about half an hour before we came a 
company of Cavalry came from the opposite direction 
and passed on towards Plymouth, and that at their ap- 
proach, the guard and teamsters fled to the woods. 

I took the teams and loads of bacon and, throwing 
out an advance and rear guard, proceeded back to Ply- 
mouth, not knowing what moment I might run onto this 
Cavalry troop, which I thought must berel)el Cavalry, as 
there were no Union Cavalry between Plymouth and 
Little Washington, wliich were about eighty miles apart, 
and knowing that no other troop had left Plymouth, and 
none would leave until my return. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 2 i i 

I reached Plymouth without opposition and then 
learned that the troop that had passed the house just 
before we got there, was thirty of our Cavalry from Little 
Washington, with dispatches for Plymouth, and had 
already arrived. 

When I learned this I was very thankful that C 

had got into the well, for otherwise, we would have 
reached the road half an hour sooner and would in all 
probability have met this troop, and mistaken them for 
the reb guard, have charged them ; and as they were 
not expecting to meet any one but enemies, they would 
very likely have attempted to break through and a fight 
would have taken place between us, which must have 
resulted in loss of life before the mistake was found out. 

Shortly after this, Modlin, our other guide, wanted 
to move his wife and household eifects into Plymouth 
and asked Captain Roache, who was then in command 
of the detachment of Cavalry, to accompany him to his 
farm, which was about fourteen miles from our lines, as 
a protection against a company of rebs that were some- 
times in the neighborhood. 

Captain Roache took eighty -five men of Companies 
''A" and ''F," and with Captain Hock, Lieutenant Russel 
and myself, accompanied him home. 

I had command of the advance going out, and after 
"we reached the house, was sent with twenty-five 
men across a piece of woods to another road, and 
about a mile out on that road, to a house where 



278 IN AND OUT UP^ REBEL PKISONS. , 

he tliought I might capture some prisoners. Mod- 
lin went along as my guide, and as we emerged 
from the woods, and came out on the road near a school 
house, I dismounted and went into the school house to 
see if there was anyone there, I found on the hearth 
the dying embers of a fire and quite a number of egg 
shells, showing that the school house had been occu- 
pied the previous night and assuring me that there were 
rebs in the vicinity. 

I did not delay, but moved rapidly down upon the 
farm house and surrounded it, but after a thorough 
search of the premises failed to reveal the rebs I was 
in search of, I mounted again and returned to Modlin's 
house, and found two carts loaded with his furniture, 
&c., and ready to start for Plymouth. 

On our return trip Lieutenant Russel was placed in 
command of the advance, and I was given command of 
the rear guard of twelve men to protect the carts. The 
mule in the head cart was driven by one of my guards, 
who led his horse behind, and the other w^as driven by a 
darkey boy, and upon this cart was seated Mrs. Modlin, 
upon the top of a load of bedding, etc. 

We had proceeded ]3erhaps a mile, when we came 
to a small stream or run, where we stopped to water the 
horses. We were passing through a swampy piece of 
woods, called cedar swamp, and just up the road, 
perhaps six hundred yards from the stream, was a small 
wood-colored meeting house. 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 279 

The advance and the main column had watered and 
started on, and I was watering the horses of the rear 
guard, when a brisk fire of musketry was opened upon 
the column now four hundred yards ahead, from the 
woods on our right. 

The column pushed by, and then halted and dis- 
mounted, while I told the mule-driver to drive up past 
before they had time to reload; but the mules were 
frightened at the firing and were hard to manage, and 
while I was assuring Mrs. Modlin that she had nothing 
to fear, as they would not fire at a woman, my guard 
galloped past the firing up to the column, the one who 
was driving the mule deserting it, and mounting his horse, 
going with the rest. The mule thus left without a driver, 
ran away up towards the company, scattering the goods 
along the road. The darkey jumped off the other cart 
and ran into the woods, and as this mule started to run, 
Mrs. Modlin, turned a back somersault off the back end 
of the cart and followed the darkey ; the mule running 
against a tree beside the road, demolished the cart and 
spilled the goods in a most promiscuous manner. My 
position behind them all, enabled me to take in the whole 
of this ludicrous scene and I should have laughed if they 
had all been killed. 

Being deserted by my guard and left alone, I started 
towards the column, firing a small pistol that had been 
presented to me, into the woods, the rebs l^eing within 
five or six rods of the road, but a cap got foul and it 



2S0 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

would not revolve, so I returned it to my belt and drew 
my navy revolver. As I passed them they gave me a 
volley, but all tired over my head, and neither myself or 
horse were touched. 

As I rode up towards the column, I saw Captain 
Hock out in' front live or six rods, firing his pistol into 
the woods, and every one seemed to be fighting on his 
own hooh. 

I called out and asked where Captain Roache was, 
and some one said he was hurt. I then called to the 
men to come out, where I was still sitting on my horse, 
and form, which they did with alacrity. Capt. Roache, 
soon recovering trom a stun he had received in dismount- 
inof, took command and we soon had the Johnnies driven 
back. Our men were all dismounted and followed the 
rebs a short distance, but as they were in the swamp we 
remounted and started on towards Plymouth without 
further molestation, except that they came out into the 
road again, after we had gone eight hundred or a thou- 
sand yards, and fired one volley at my rear guard. 

We had five horses wounded, but lost no men either 
in killed or wounded. Five or six months after, when I 
was taken prisoner at Plymouth, I saw the Lieutenant, 
who was in command of the ambushing party, and in 
talking about that skirmish he said, that when that volley 
was fired at me at such cl(3se f[uarters (not over fifteen 
rods) and I being such a splendid mark sitting on my 
horse, he thought I was gone sure. 



IN AND OUT OF KEBEL PRISONS. 281 

Mrs. Modlin, the next day having recovered her 
inules, and picked up her household goods, came into 
Plymouth alone. 

We had an Irish Lieutenant in the 12th Cavalry, 
whose quaint expressions gave us much merriment. 
When we first went to Camp Palmer, we had daily 
drills ; he being 1st Lieutenant, drilled the first platoon 
of the company, and I the second. We used to take 
them out separately, and I used to be greatly amused at 
the orders he would give. We commenced by 
drilling the men in the sabre exercise, and I was watching 
him the first day. When he got his men into line, and after 
having them take the proper distance, he gave the com- 
mand something like this: "Attention, min ! Kow I 
am going to larn yees how to draw sabre. Whin I say 
'draw!' don't you draw; but whin I say 'sabre!' out 
wid it." Now those who do not understand the sabre 
drill may want a little explanation as to how this was to 
be done. At the command " draw " the sabre is loos- 
ened from the scabbard and drawn about six inches ; 
and at the command " sal)re" it is drawn out and describ- 
ing a half circle to the front, carried to the shoulder. 

Another favorite order of his when he wished to 
give the order, "fours right" and then form the squad on 
right into line, was this : " On ladin set of fours, form 
line of battle, faced to the rare, march !" Turning to the 
Major, who was watching him drill one day, after execut- 
ing this manoeuvre he said, " Major this is a bully move- 



282 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PKISONS. 

ment on a retrate." While we were near Camp Palmer, 
om' advance picket post was about five miles from camp, 
at a place called Deep Gully ; and it was usual for the 
officer of the day after guard mount, to march his guard 
under command of the Sergeant, to Deep Grully, in col- 
ums of fours. This Irish Lieutenant, being officer of the 
day one time, after the inspection of the guard was com- 
pleted and the Adjutant had turned them over to him 
with the usual instructions, rode out in front and gave 
his orders thus : "Attention guard, draw sabre ! carry, 
sabre ! be twos or be fours, whichever yees like. Deep 
Gully, to the front ! Away wid yees." 

While at Plymouth, the two Captains and four Lieu- 
tenants, of our two Cavalry companies, formed a mess, 
each officer contriliuting his share towards the expenses. 
After a while, however, one of the Captains offered to run 
the mess, for so much a head per week, agreeing to give 
us good board. Well, for a week or two, every thing 
went smoothly and all seemed satisfied with the fare. 
One day we had chicken for dinner, made up into a sort 
of soup, or more properly speaking, gruel. This, by 
breaking some hardtack into it, though rather thin, was 
rendered quite palatable by judicious seasoning, and 
there being plenty left it was warmed up for dinner again. 
The third day as we sat down to dinner, we found 
another dish of this gruel on our plates, somewhat 
diluted, and looking rather feeble. 

When this L'ish Lieutenant sat down to dinner he 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 283 

took a look at the soup, and recognizing in it some infin- 
itesimal portions of the old friend of the two previous 
days, shoved back his plate and with flushed face ejacu- 
lated: " Be jabers T like soup ; I'm fond of soup, I like 
soup for forty or fifty meals, but by jabers as a gineral 
diet I don't think much of it." 

We had good quarters in Plymouth. Our quarters 
were in a two-story white house, built as most of the 
houses in the South are, with a wide hall running through 
the centre and instead of a cellar, the house was set upon 
.posts, so as to give free access to the air underneath. 
Our Irish Lieutenant occupied one Large room up stairs, 
and I occupied one just across the hall from him. One 
Sunday morning I heard a noise in his room, and step- 
ping across the hall, opened his door, and at first thought 
by his language that he was engaged in his Sunday 
morning devotions, as he was a strict Catholic. When 
I opened the door and took a look at him, I was startled 
at the sight which met my gaze. He was standing in 
the middle of the room, with a new white flannel shirt 
about half on, his head protruding, and his face of 
apoplectic hue, his arms extending upward, and he 
seemed incapable of either getting out of or into the shirt. 
It was one of those heavy white flannel shirts such as 
we all took with us at the commencement of the service, 
which would shrink in washing to about one-half their 
original size. 



^84 IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

As I entered the room there was a look of discour- 
agement upon his face, which from a hl^eral use of com- 
missary and natural swarthiness, was always somewhat 
flushed, and now looked like a boiled lobster, which gave 
it a frightful appearance. The first sentence I heard 
sounded like a prayer ; he said, " Oh ! may the Lord take 
particular pains to damn the nagur that w^ashed this 
shurret." Taking iu the situation at a glance, I discreet- 
ly withdrew and allowed him to conclude his devotions. 

Making Yankees out of the Contrabands, was a 
pleasing pastime for our boys after the war had ended ; 
and hundreds of these dusky " innocent causes " flocked 
into Tarboro, N. C, after we occupied that Secesh 
town, to be transformed into "Lincum Yankees." In- 
stead of going to headquarters, they would generally go 
directly to the company quarters, where the boys would 
heartily welcome them. To the question, "well boy, do 
you want to be made a Yankee"? " They would say "yes 
massa, I spects I does." A good strong blanket would 
be brought out and six stalwart fellows would hold it on 
either side and the candidate would be gently placed 
upon it. 

The question would then be asked, "Do you promise 
to support the Constitution of the United States ? " to 
which they would usually respond, " I 'spects I does, 
massa." The order would then be given, attention ! one, 
two, three, go; and he would go. At first they would 
toss him gently, but at every successive toss he would 



IN AND OUT OF REBEL PRISONS. 2S5 

go liigher and higher, until he coukl ahnost, as one ex- 
pressed it, see the " gates ajar; " some would almost turn 
white when they were tossed up to such a fearful height, 
but as soon as one was pronounced reconstructed and en- 
titled as such to all the rights and privileges of an Ameri- 
can citizen^ another would step forward and signify his 
desire to become a Yankee. There was very seldom any 
accident in these initiating exercises, but I remember of 
one, in which sonle of the boys became too weak, from 
excessive laughter, to hold onto the blanket, and a strap- 
ping young negro came near being killed; as I think he 
surely would have been, had he not fortunately struck 
the ground head first. 



CONCLUSION. 

Reader, while I do not claim for this volume any 
rare literary merit, I trust a perusal of its pages may have 
afforded you some little pleasure, and instruction. I can 
cheerfully place it in the hands of my old prison associ- 
ates, confident that they will testify to its truthfulness 
and fairness. 

While the language is my own, I can confidently 
claim that it conveys no imaginary sufferings and priva- 
tions. I have endeavored to speak of the Southern prisons 
and of the treatment meted out to those whom the for- 
tunes of war compelled to endure and suffer the hard- 
ships, tortures and privations of a Hngering confinement 



286 IN AND OCT OF REBEL PRISONS. 

ill those loathsome pens of starvation, provided by the 
self-styled Southern Confederacy, as a punishment for 
lovalty to country and the flag, just as I found them. 
Not to the 2)eo2)Ie of the South do I lay the blame of the 
frightful mortality among prisoners, in those pens of 
starvation, but to Jeff. Davis and the infamous Winder ; 
who boasted that they were doing more execution among 
the prisoners, than Lee's whole army was doing in the 
field; to them I say that the l^lood of thirty-five thousand 
loyal hearted patriots, cry from the ground of Ander- 
sonville, Sahsbury, Florence and Belle Island, unto a just 
God, for vengeance upon those who so cruelly, heart- 
lessly and fiendishly murdered them. 

To them I say that should they flee to the uttermost 
parts of the earth, they cannot escape the contempt of an 
outraged world, nor the curse of the thousands of 
mothers, widows, and fatherless children, whom they 
have in their fiendish hatred, rol)bed of their beloved 
sons, husbands and fathers. 




APPENDIX. ^87 



APPENDIX. 



The author of this volume, Alonzo Cooper, was lioru 
in the town of Victory, Cayuga Co., N. Y., April oOth, 
1830. His father John Cooper, who "was born August 
15th, A. D. 1794, enlisted from Scoharie County in the 
war of 1812-13-14, and during his term of service, was 
for a time employed on the construction of the famous 
110 Gun, line of battle ship " NEW ORLEANS " at 
Sackets Harbor, which was built and all ready for caulk- 
ing in six weeks from the time the first tree was felled. 
Abraham Cooper, an older brother of John, was also in 
the service during the war of 1812, serving as Captain 
in a Militia company. 

The mother of the author, Amanda Cochran, was a 
daughter of John Cochran, a Revolutionary soldier. 
John Cochran was an Irishman l^y l)irth and as such was 
claimed as a British subject, and was arrested by the 
"press gang" as they were then called, and taken on 
board an English man-of-war to be impressed into the 
service of Great Britain. 



28S' APPENDIX. 

The vessel was anchored about one and a half miles 
from shore, the better to prevent the escape of the im- 
pressed seamen ; but, notwithstanding the strict sur- 
veillance under which they were placed, John Cochrane 
and a comrade one dark night, tied their clothing into a 
bundle, which they fastened on their heads and dropped 
into the water from the fore chains of the vessel where 
they were stationed, and swam to the shore' and made 
good their escape. The story as frequently told me by 
my mother, is a long one and filled with thrilling inci- 
dents, as was also the mihtary life of my lather, John 
Cooper. My father died October 23d, 1831, when I 
was only eighteen months old, leaving my mother with 
a family of nine children, one of whom was a babe only 
a few weeks old. Her only income was the products of 
a farm of 25 acres, and the trifling wages as a carpenter's 
apprentice of my eldest brother, Lorenzo. 

In the spring of 183(3, my mother having sold her 
farm in Victory and bought fifty acres in Sterling, we 
moved into a new log house that my brother had built 
during the winter and early spring, and around which he 
had made a clearing of sufficient dimensions to avert the 
danger of the house being crushed by fnlling trees. 
This clearing was extended during the summer to ten 
or fifteen acres by cutting ofi'the timber, and afforded 
us youngsters plenty of work, piling brush and Inirning 
them, and the log heaps which a >>3e of neighbors had 
construcied. The house had !(;' b<!en chincked,and the 



APPENDIX. 289 

floor was made of split bass wood slabs, hewn smooth and 
nicely fitted together, which if not as elegant as the more 
modern floors, at least possessed the elements of strength 
and durability. A large Dutch fire place, and a wide 
chimney l)uilt of sticks and mud, took up nearly half of 
the north side of the house, while at the right of the fire 
place was constructed a rude pair of stairs leading to the 
upper rooms. The lower part of the house consisted of 
this one room, about 16x18, which served as parlor, din- 
ing room and kitchen, and a bedroom and recess occupied 
the south side. 

The upper rooms were two in numl^er and were 
supplied with rough board floors, and with a window in 
each room. A cellar was dug under the front room for 
the storage of apples and vegetables during the winter, 
and was entered by a trap door near the center of the 
floor. 

The district school was about half a mile north and 
was kept in what was called the VanPetten school house. 
Here it was that the author first attended school, which 
was taught that summer by Miss Rachel Lester — now Mrs. 
McFadden. For seven seasons I attended school there 
under the instruction of different teachers, among whom 
were. Miss Sarah J. McCrea, now Mrs. George Turner, 
Mr. Emerson Crane, Mr. Mathew B. VanPetten, Obediah 
Cooper, Dennis Cooper, John B. VanPetten, and others. 
Up to the time of my mother's death, which occurred 
January 17, 1845, just before I was fifteen years old, 

19 



290 APPENDIX. 

I had attend ed school summer and winter, with the ex- 
ception of part of tlie last two summers, when I was 
obliged to stay at home to assist in the farm work, and 
being easy to learn, had acquired a fair education in the 
primary l^ranches for a boy of my age — 14 years. 

At the death of my mother the only legacy I inher- 
ited was a robust constitution, a cheerful and happy 
disposition, and the faculty of always looking upon the 
bright side of life. These characteristics were clearly in- 
herited from my mother, to whom obstacles that would ~ 
have seemed insurmountable to most women seemed only 
an incentive to more determined efforts. 

To her household duties were added the work of 
the loom and the spinning wheel, and up to the time of 
her death there were very few clothes worn by the family 
that she did not weave and afterwards make up into 
garments. 

The linen trowsers and shirts that were bleached to 
snowy whiteness for our summer wear, and the full suits 
of comfortable sheeps-gray for winter, were alike the pro- 
duction of her own toil. The dresses worn by the girls, 
especially those for Sunday wear, were also the produc- 
tion of her loom, and were dyed and pressed l\v herself 
Besides all this, all the time that could be spared from 
the duties of her own household was employed in weav- 
ing for others. 

Both she and my father were members of the old 
Reformed Dutch Church at Cato — now Meridian — that 



APPENDIX. 291 

was at that time under the pastorage of the good ohi 
dominie Houghman, and her well worn Bible bore testi- 
mony to her faithfulness in her Christian duties. She 
was faithful in instilling into the hearts of her children 
the religion she practiced, but rather appealed to their 
sense of duty than to the fear of punishment. 

After the death of my mother I followed the pur- 
suit of a farmer, attending tlie district school during the 
winter, until I was 19 years of age, when I entered the 
employ of Mr. Charles Burnett, of Skaneateles, N. Y., in 
his dry goods and grocery store. I remained with Mr. 
Burnett one year and then, as he retired from business, 
I came to Oswego and entered the drug store of the 
late James Bickford, jr. 

Not liking the drug business, I at the end of the 
first year entered into the employment of the late Wor- 
den Newkirk, as a dry goods clerk, with whom I re- 
mained three years, and was afterwards for a short time 
in the large dry goods house of Downs & VanWick, ot 
Chicago. 

Thrown out of employment in Chicago by the panic 
of 1856, and l)eing fond of adventure, when the great 
'' Lager Beer Riot," as it was called, broke out in that 
city in the spring of that year, I went to the city hall 
in response to a call for three hundred special police and 
was sworn in as a special to serve during the riot. The 
riot lasted three days and was a lively skirmish. 



292 APPENDIX. 

We took three hundred prisoners in the first three 
hours and there were a number killed and wounded. 

The rioters marched across Clark street bridge in 
good order, armed with shot guns, pistols, hatchets and 
clubs, and were met by the police at the corner of Clark 
and Lake streets, where the first conflict took place. 

Almost the first shot fired by the rioters wounded 
the man next to me in the arm near the shoulder, and he 
fell as though he had been knocked down by a powerful 
blow. I was too closely engaged to paj any attention to 
him and for a time it was pretty lively work for all of us. 

I commenced business for myself in the spring or 
summer of 1857, by starting a fruit, confectionery and 
oyster store on West First street, about wliere the middle 
of the Lake Shore Hotel now is. I moved around on 
Utica street while the " Revenue Block" (now the Lake 
Shore block) was under process of construction, and 
upon its completion, took the store in the north end of 
that block, which I kept until after the war of the 
Rebellion broke out. Having served six years in the 
Old Oswego Guards, and become somewhat proficient in 
the drill, I was anxious to join one of the regiments then 
being raised. But the store could not be disposed of, and 
needed, at that time, my individual attention. Finally, 
without disposing of my store, I enlisted in the 12th N. 
Y. Cavalry, which was then being recruited in Oswego, 
by Major Ward Gasper ; who intended at first to raise 
two companies of Cavalry for the " Harris Light," but 



APPENDIX. 293 

subsequently went on and made the two companies, then 
raised a nucleus, from which the 12tli was finally formed. 

The two companies were taken to Albany, where we 
were again examined by a surgeon as to our fitness to 
perform military duty, and from there went to Staten 
Island. 

Authorization papers having been procured for me 
I was sent on recruiting service, and was subsequently 
mustered as 1st Lieutenant of company "I" Sept. 1st 1862. 

We remained on Staten Island all winter perfecting 
ourselves in the Cavalry tactics and drill ; but before 
spring the men had become so dissatisfied with the in- 
activity on the Island, that by desertions, our eight com- 
panies were reduced to four, and by order of General 
John E. Wool, the eight companies were consolidated in- 
to four, thus rendering four Captains and eight Lieuten- 
ants supernumerary, who were ordered mustered out of the 
service as such. I was among the number so mustered 
out, but went to work immediately recruiting more 
men and was in due time again mustered in, this time as 
2nd Lieutenant of Company " I." With this Company 
I joined the regiment at Camp Palmer near Newbern, N. C. 

I was soon sent to Plymouth, N. C, on detached 
service, under General W. H. Wessels. 

On January 25th, 1864, I was promoted to 1st 
Lieutenant of Co. "F," but was not able to get to the 
mustering office, and was therefore not mustered as such 
until after my return from prison in 1865, and conse- 



29-i APPENDIX. 

queiitly could not be promoted to a Captain, as I other- 
wise should have been, when a vacancy occurred. 

During my service I never lost a day's duty, except 
once, when I was disabled by having two of my ribs 
broken, and my back severely injured, and never applied 
for leave of absence, except as a paroled prisoner, as 
before stated. 

The detachment to which I was assigned were 
never defeated in any of the numerous skirmishes while 
at Plymouth, until the battle of Plymouth, which lasted 
four days and in which the enemy acknowledged a loss 
nearly equal to the whole number engaged on our side, 
and in which battle the enemies force amounted to 8000 
and the Earn Albemarle, and ours less than 2000. 




LIST OF PRISONERS. 



295 



LIST OF OFFICFRS CONFINED IN MACON, GA. 



The following is a list of officers who were confined 
as prisoners of war at Macon, Ga., in 1864. I do not 
claim the list to be complete, but as nearly so as I can 
make it at this time : 

BRIGADIER-GENERALS. 



Wessels, 






Seymour, 


Shaler, 






Scammon, 






Hickman. 






COLONELS. 


Grove, 






Hawkins, 


Harrison, 






Lehman, 


LaGrange, 






Lee, 


White, 






Bollinger, 


Brown, 






Dana, 


F. A. Bartleson, 100 111. 


R. W. McClain, 51 0. 


C. H. Carlton, 


89 




W. H. Powell, 2 Va. C 


P. D. Cesnola, 


4N. 


Y. C. 


Tho. E. Rose, 77 Pa. 


Wm. G. Ely, 


18 Conn. 


A. D. Streight, 51 Ind. 



W. p. Kindrick, 3 W. T. C. Chas. W. Tilden, 1(3 Me. 



296 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



O. A. Lawson, 3 0. A. H. Tippin, 58 Pa. 

H. LeFavour, 22 Mich. W. T. Wilson, 123 0. 

J. H. Ashworth, 1 Ga. U. V. Pennock, Huey, 6 Pa. C 

T. H. Butler, 5 Ind. C. F. C. Miller, 147 N. Y. 

S. J. Crooks, 22 N. Y. C. W. Sliedd, 13 111. 

J. Frasier, 140 Pa. Daniel White, 31 Me. 
C. W. Fardella, 85 N. Y. 



LIEUT. 

Burnham, 

Bartholomew, 

Dickinson, 

Fairbanks, 

Higginbotham, 

Maxwell, 

Alcott, 

Rogers, 

Stewart, 

S. M. Archer, 17 la. 

I. F. Boyd, 20 A. C. 

T. F. Cavada, 114 Pa. 

C. Farnsworth, 1 Conn, C 

W. A. Glenn, 86 O. 

H. P. Hunter, 123 0. 

A. P. Henry, 15 Ky. C. 

E. L. Hays, 100 0. 

H. C. Hobert, 21 Wis. 

0. C. Johnson, 15 Wis. 



COLONELS. 

Baldwin, 
Cook, 
Fellows, 
Glenn, 
Mills, 
Moffit, 
Postley, 
Hepford, 
Swift, 

W. P. Lasselle, 9 Md. 
W. E. McMackin, 21 111. 
D. A. McHolland, 51 Ind. 
. C. H. Mortin, 84 111. 
J. D. Mayhew, 8 Ky. 
D. Miles, 79 Pa. 
W. B. McCreary, 21 Mich. 
R. S. Northcott, 12 Va. 
M. Nichols, 1 8 Conn. 
Wm. Price, 139 Va. M. 



^ 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



297 



G. C. Joslin, 15 Mass. 
I. J. Polsley, 8 Ya. Y. I. 
A. F. Rogers, 80 111. 
J. P. Spofford, 79 N. Y. 
J. M. Sanderson, S. 0. 
G. Yon Helmrich, 4 Mo. C. 
M. B. Biiftum, 4 I. R. 
J. B. Conyngham, 52 Pa. 
C. W. Clancy, 52 0. 
M. A. Leeds, 153 0. 

C. C. Matson, 6 Ind. C. 

D. B. McCreary, 145 Pa. 
O. Moulton, 25 Mass. 



P. S. Piver, 77 Penn. 

A. Yan Schrader, A. I. G. 

I. H. Wing, 3 0. 

J. N. Walker, 73 Ind. 

J. Williams, 25 0. 

T. S. West, 24 Wis. 

Benj. B. Morgan, 75 0. 

H. P. Stoughton, 2 U. S. S. S. 

A. H. Sanders, 16 Iowa, 

T. J. Thorp, 1 N. Y. Drag. 

G Yon Helmrick, 4 Mo. C. 

G Wallace, 47 0. 

Taylor. 



Beeres, 

Bates, 

Carpenter, 

Grant, 

E. N. Bates, 80 111. 

W. T. Beatly, 2 0. 

C. H. Beers, 16 111. C. 
J. P. Collins, 29 Ind. 
M. E. Clarke, 5 Mich. 

D. A. Carpenter, 2 Tenn 
J. J. Edwards, 32 Mass. 



MAJORS. 
Baker, 
Clark, 
Crandall, 
Hall, 

A. McMahan, 21 0. 
D. M. Kercher, 10 Wis. 
M. Moore, 29 Ind. 
W. S. Marshall, 5 la. 
S. Marsh, 5 Md. 
J. R. Muhlman, A. A. G. 
W. P. Nieper, 57 Pa. 



G. W. Fitzsimmons, 30 Ind. W. N. Ovens, 1 Ky. C. 
N. Goff, jr., 4 W. Ya. C. E. M. Pope, 8 N. Y. C. 



298 



LIST OF PKISONERS. 



J. H. Plooper, 15 Mass. 
J. Hall, 1 Va. C. 
Jno. Henry, 5 0. C. 
J. B. Hill, 17 Mass. 
I. H. Johnson, 11 Tenn. 
S. Kovax, 54 N. Y. C. 



L. N. Phelps, 5 Va. 
A. PhilUps, 77 Pa. 
T. B. Rodgers, 140 Pa. 
W. I. Russell, A. A. G. 
I. C. Vananda, 3 0. 
A. Von Mitzel, 74 Pa. 



W. D. Morton, 14 N. Y. C. H. A. White, 13 Pa C. 



S. Mclrvin, 2 N. Y. C. 

B. B. McDonald, 101 O. 
J. H. Dewees, 14 Pa. C. 
M. Dunn, 19 Mass. 

W. N. Denny, 51 Ind. 

D. EngUsh, 11 Ky. C. 

C. K. Flemhig, 11 Vt. 
G. B. Fox, 75 0. 

W. H. Forbes, 2 Mass. C. 
J. H. Filer, 55 Pa. 
T. J. Hasley, 11 N. Y. 
W. P. Hall, 6 N. Y. C. 

E. H. Smith, 2 Pa. C. 



J. B. Wade, 73 Ind. 
Harry White, 67 Pa. 
J. H. Isett, 8 Ind. C. 
C. M. Lynch, 145 Pa. 
P. McLernan, 22 N. Y. C. 

C. P. Mattock, 17 Me. 
P. Nelson, 66 N. Y. 
J. E. Pratt, 4 Vt. 

W. L. Parsons, 2 Wis. 

D. Quigg, 14 111. C. 
W.H.Reynolds, 14 N.Y. A. 
J. Steele, 2 Pa. C\ 

D. Thomas, 135 0. 



L.B.Speece,7Pa.V.R.Cps. D. Vickers, 4 N. J. 
T. A Smith, 7 Tenn C. G. G. Wanzer, 24 N. Y. C. 
M. H. Soper, 5 Ind. C. J. W. Yonng, 76 N. Y. 

Johnson. 



White, 



CHAPLAINS. 

^ Dixon. 



LIST OF PKIS0NEK8. 



299 



CAPTAINS. 
R. B. Hock, 12th N. Y. C. — Cady 24 N. Y. Ind. Bat. 
— Sampson, 2 Mass. H. A. — Geere. 



W. F. Armstrong, 74 0. 
S. C. Arthurs, 67 Pa. 
W. Airej, 15 Pa. C 
E. C. Alexander, 1 Del. 
W. B. Avery, 132 N. Y. 
I. A. Arthur, 8 Ky. C. 
H. H. Alban, 21 0. 
W. R. Adams, 89 0. 
C. A. Adams, 1 Verm. 
Jno. Albright, 87 Pa. 
E. W. Atwood, 16 Me. 
M. Boyd, 73 Ind. 
Chas. Byron, 3 0. 
E. Baas, 20 111. 
L. T. Borgers, 67 Pa. 
H. P. Barker, 1 R. I. C. 
W. K. Boltz, 181 Pa. 
W. J. Barnes, 83 N. Y. 
A. Carley, 73 Ind. 
H. Casker, 1 N. Y. C. 
W. F. Conrad, 25 la. 



H. R. Bending, 61 0. 
M. R. Baldwin, 2 Wis. 

C. D. Brown, 18 Conn. 
W. P. Bender, 123 0. 
John Bird, 14 Pa. C. 
L. B. Blinn, 100 O. 

D. E. Bohannon, 3 T. C. 
Dav. I. Bailey, 99 N. Y. 

A. J. Bigelow, 79 111. 
Jno. Birch, 42 Ind. 

D. M. Barrett, 89 0. 

W. M. Beeman, 1 Va. C. 

F. Barton, 10 Mass. 

J. H. Barton, 1 Ky. C. 

E. B. Bascom, 5 la. 

B. V. Banks, 13 Ky. 
JohnG-. Bush, 16 111. C. 

G. C. Davis, 4 Me. 
R. H. Day, 56 Pa. 
E. Day, Jr., 80 0. 
R. Dinsmore, 5 Pa. 



J. W. Chamberlain, 123 0. E. J. Dunn, 1 Tenn. C. 
D. S. Caldwell, 123 0. E. Dillingham, 10 Va. 

J. Carroll, 5 Md. F. C. Dirks, 1 Tenn. 

J. C. Carpenter, 67 Pa. PL H. Eberhardt, 120 0. 



300 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



B. a. Casler, 154 N. Y. 

C. C. Comee, 94 N. Y. 
E. Charleer, 157 X. Y. 
Jno. Cutler, 34 0. 

R T. Cornwall, 57 Pa. 
Jno. Craig, 1 Va. Cav. 
Jno. Christopher, 16 U. S. 
J. P. Cummins, 9 Md. 
M. A. Cochran, 16 U. S. 
T. Clarke, 79 111. 
J. Cusac, 21 0. 
W. A. CoUins, 10 Wis. 
B. F. Campbell, 36 111. 
S. S. Canfield, 21 0. 
T Cummins, 19 U. S. 
Miles Caton, 21 0. 

D. S. Cannover, 125 111. 
G. A. Crocker, 6 N. Y. C. 
W. N. Cochran, 42 111. 
M. Callahan, 9 Md. 

W. E. Conway, 9 Md. 
J. P. Cummins, 9 Md. 
M. C.-Carns, 3 Tenn. 
J. R. Copeland, 7 O. C. 
A. R. Calhoun, 1 Ky. 
R. S. Curd, 11 Ky. C. 

E. M. Driscoll, 3 O. 
^Y. N. Doung, 51 Ind. 



B. F. Evers, 100 0. 
S. H. Ewing, 26 0. 
M. Ewen, 21 Wis. 

A. Eglin, 45 O. 

Jno. M. Flinn, 51 Ind. 
E.A. Fobes, C. S. 

B. F. Fischer, S. 0. 
A. Field, 94 N. Y. 
J. B. Fay, 154 N. Y. 
E. Frey, 82 111. 

W. Forrester, 24 0. 
J. W. Foster, 42 111. 
D. Getman, 10 X. Y. C. 
G. C. Gordon, 24 Mich. 
G. W. Green, 19 Ind. 
H. W. Gimber, 150 Pa. 
W. L. Gray, 151 Pa. 
J. H. Green, 100 0. 
Chas. Gustaveson, 15 Wis. 
J F. Gallaher, 2 O. 
J. Goetz, 22 Mich. 

A. G. Galbraith, 21 Mich. 
J. Gates, 33 O. 

0. C. Gatch, 89 0. 
S. A. Glenn, 89 (3. 
J. W. Grose, 18 Ky. > 

B. Grafton, 64 O. 

H. H. Gregg, 13 Pa. C. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



301 



B. Domschke 26 Wis. 
F. B. Doten, 14 Conn. 
F. W. Dillion, 1 Ky. C. 
H. C. Davis, 18 Conn. 
Jno. Dunce, A. D. C. 
W. H. Douglas, C. S. 
K. S. Dygert, 16 Mich. 
H. Dietz, 45 N. Y. C. 

J. M. Dusliane, 142 N. Y. 
S. a. Hamlin, 134 N. Y. 
W. L. Hubbell, 17 Conn. 
P. H. Hart, 19 Ind. 
A. Heffley, 142 Pa. 
W. W. Hant, 100 O. 
Chas. Hasty, 2 X. Y. C. 
A. Gr. Hamilton, 12 Ky. 
T. Handy, 79 111. 
V. K. Hart, 19 U. S. 
H. Hescock, 1 Mo. A. 
R Harkness, 10 AVis. 
H. E. Hawkins, 78 111. 

C. C. Huntley, 16 HI. 
J B. Herold, 9 Md. 

S. C. Honeycutt, 2 E. T. 
S. Irvin, 3 Iowa. 
S. F. Jones, 80 111. 
J. M. Imbrie, 3 0. 
R. Johnson, 6 N. Y. C. 



Jas. Gait, A. Q, M. 

M. Gallagher, 2 N. Y. C. 

Dan'l Hay, 8(J 111. 

A. Hodge, 80 111. 

J. G. Hagler, 5 Tenn. 

A. M. Heyer, 10 Va. C. 

J. Hendricks, 1 N. Y. C. 

John Heil, 45 N. Y. 

A. Haack, 18 N. Y. 

D. H. Mull, 73 Ind. 

D. A. McHolland, 51 Ind. 
J. B. McRoberts, 3 0. 
McMoore, 29 Ind. 

W. M. Morris, 93 111. 
H. C. McGuiddy, 1 T. C. 
F. Mennert, 5 Md. 

E. J. Matthewson, 18 Conn. 
W. F. Martins, 14 Mass. A. 
P. Marsh, 67 Pa. 

D. B. Meany, 13 Pa. C. 
C. C. Moses, 58 Pa. 

C. A. Mann, 5 111. C. 

S. Marsh, 5 Md. 

J. McMahon, 94 N. Y. 

E. A. Mass, 88 Pa. 

A. J. Makepeace, 19 Ind. 
H. H. Mason, 2 N. Y. C. 
C. W. Medcalf, 42 Ind. 



302 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



F. Irsh, 45 N. Y. 
J. C. Joliiison, 14!) Pa. 
F. R. Josselyn, 11 Mass. 
R. 0. Ivro, 10 Mass. 

D. I. Jones, 1 Kv. C. 
J. S. Jackson, 22 111. 
J. M. Johnson, G Ky. 

J. A. Johnson, 11 Ky. C 
J. T. Jennings, 45 0. 
W. M. Kendall, 73 Ind. 

E. M. Koch, 5 Md. 
S. B. Khig, 12 Pa. C. 
A. M. Keeler, 22 Mich. 

D. A. Kelly, 1 Ky. C. 
J. Kelly, 73 Pa. 

, D. F. Kelly, 73 Pa. 
J. Kennedy, 73 Pa. 
W. D. Lucas, 5 N. Y. C. 
R. F. Lo wnsberry , 1 N. Y. C. 
L. P. Lovett, 5 Ky. 
John Lucas, 5 Ky, 
J. AY. Lewis, 4 Ky. C. 
E.M. Lee, 5 Mich. C. 
J. E. Love, 8 Ks. 
J. R. Land, GG Ind. 
S. McKee, 14 Ky. C. 

F. W. Perry, 10 Wis. 

E. J. Pennypacker, 1 8 Pa. C. 



J. S. McDowell, 77 Pa. 
J. G. Wilhams, 51 111. 
J. Meagher, 40 O. 
W. McG-innis, 74 111. 
J. M. McComas, 9 Md. 
A. AY. Metcalf, 14 N. Y. C. 
M. R. Milsaps, 2 E. T. 
A. Marney, 2 E. T. 
W. M. Murray, 2 E. T. 
J. C. Martin, 1 Tenn. A. 
S. Meade, 11 N. Y. 
W. A. Noel, 5 Md. 
H. Noble, 9 Md. 
T. W. Olcott, 134 N. Y. 

E. O'Brien, 29 Mo. 
N. C. Pace, 80 111. 

J. D. Phelps, 73 Ind. 

F. A. Patterson, 3 Va. C. 
J. F. Porter, 14 N. Y. C. 
J. A. Pennfield, 5 N. Y. C. 

E. Porter, 154 N. Y. 
S. V. Pool, 154 N. Y. 

F. Place, 157 N. Y 

S. H. Pillshury, 5 Me. 
R. Pollock, 14 Pa. C. 
a. S. Pierce, 19 U. S. 
A. H. Stanton, 16 U. S. 
R. H. Spencer, 10 Wis. 



LIST OF PEISONEKS. 



303 



W. F. Pickerill, 5 la. 
J. E. Page, 5 la. 
J. A. Richie V, 73 Ind. 
M. Russell, 51 Ind. 
P. C. Reed, 3 0. 
W. C. Rossman, 3 0. 
J. F. Randolph, 123 

A. Robbins, 123 0. 
C. H. Riggs, 123 0. 

O. H. Rosenbaum, 123 0. . 
W. Rowan, Indp. C. 
M. RoUins, 2 Wis. 
J. C. Rose, 4 Mo. C. 
Thos. Reed, 1 Va. 
W. A. Robinson, 77 la. 

B. F. Riggs, 18 Ky. 
N. S. Randall, 2 0. 
J. A. Rice, 73 111. 
W. J. Robb, 1 Va. 
A. Rodgers, 4 Ky. C. 

C. Rowan, 96 111. 

S. B. Ryder, 5 N. Y. C. 

C. Reynolds, 8 Fenn. 

W. H. Robbins, 2 E. Teim 
J. A. Russell, 93 111. 
W. AV. Scarce, 51 Ind. 
W. A. Swayze, 3 C). 

D. D. Smith, 1 Temi. C. 



S. A. Spencer, 82 O. 
E. L. Smith, 19 U. S. 
J. P. Singer, 33 0. 

A. P. Seuter, 2 E. Teim. 
P. S. Scott, 85 111. 

T. Thornton, 161 N. Y. 
John Teed, 116 Pa. 
0. Templeton, 107 Pa. 
H. D. Taylor, 100 0. 

B. E. Thomson, A. D. C. 
T. TenEyck, 18 U. S. 
A. Tubbs, 9 Ky. C. 

T. Thornton, 5 U. S. 
G. C. Urwiler, 67 Pa. 
J. D. Underdown, 2 E. D. 
J. W. Vanderhoei; 45 N. Y. 
G. M. Van Buren, 6 N. Y. C. 
A. Wilson, 80 111. 
W. R. Wright, 80 111. 
J. A. Wistlake, 73 Ind. 
Wm, Walleck, 51 Ind. 
G. W. Warner, 18 Conn. 

C. W. White, 3 Va. C 
W. Willets, 7 Mich. 

J. C. Whiteside, 94 N. Y. 
T. E. Wentworth, 16 Me. 
W. C. Wilson, 104 N. Y. 
H. C. Wliite, 94 N. Y 



304 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



E. Szabad, A. D. C. 

H. W. Sawyer, 1 N. J. C. 

E. A. Shepherd, 110 0. 

D. Schirtz, 12 Pa. C. 
Geo. L. Schell, 88 Pa. 
S. A. Urquhard, C. S. 
O. H. Starr, 88 Pa. 

J. E. Stone, 157 N. Y. 
AYm. Syring, 45 N. Y. 

E. Scofield, 1 Ya. C. 

T. M. Shoemaker, 100 0. 
J. A. Scammerhorn, 112 Ind. 
J. C. Shroad, 77 Pa. 
J. B. Alters, 75 0. 
W. N. Algbaiigh, 51 Pa. 
H. B. Andrews, 17 Mich. 
John Aigan, 5 E. I. Art. 
M. A. Aiier, 15 N. Y. C. 
C. D. Amory, A. A. Gen. 
James Belger, 1 E. I. Art. 
C. H. Burdick, 1 Tenn. 
G. Bradley, 2 N. J. 
C. W. Boutin, 4 Yt. 
C. D. Bowen, 18 Conn. 
B. Bennett, 22 N. Y. C. 
N. Bostwick, 20 0. 
J. F. Benson, 120 111. 
B. C. Beebee, 13 Ind. 



C. C. Widdis, 150 Pa. 
Geo. M. White, 1 Ya. 
AY. H. Wilhams, 4 N. Y. C. 
P. Wellsheimer, 21 111. 
H. P. Wands, 22 Mich. 
W. B. Wicker, 21 0. 
J. E. Wilkens, 112 111. 
J. G. Wild, 9 N. Y. C. 
J. H. Whelan, A. Q. M, 

E. A. Wolcott, 16 111. 
M. G. Whitney, 29 Mo. 
H. Zeis, 80 111. 

J. C. Slover, 3 E. T. 
L. S. Clark, 62 N. Y. 
H. C. Chapin, 4 Yt. 

F. S. Case, 2 0. C. 

T. Coglin, 14 N. Y. H. Art. 
J. W. Colville, 5 Mich. 
L. M. Carperts, 18 Wis. 
E. N. Carpenter, 6 Pa. C. 
M.W. Clark, 11 lowaC. 
E. S. Daniels, 35 U. S. C. T. 
C. C. Dodge, 20 Mich. 
0. J. Downing, 2 N. Y. C. 
J. G. Derrickson, G6 N. Y. 
J. B. Dennis, 7 Conn. 
T. F. Davenport, 75 0. 
C. L. Dirlan, 12 0. 



>- 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



305 



A. N. Benson, 1 D. C. C. 

E. A. Burpee, 19 Me. 

J. ^Y. Bryant, 5 N. Y. C. 

H. Biebel, 6 Conn.. 

J. A. Barrett, 7 Pa. R. C. 

a A. Bayard, 148 Pa. 

Geo. A. Blanchard, 85 111. 

S. Bremen, 3 Mich. 

A. D. Bliss, 10 N. Y. C. 

H. D. Baker, 120 111. 

W. F. Bennett, 39 la. 

J. H. Brown, 17 Iowa. 

S. D. Barnum,23U.S.C.T. 

W. F. Baker, 87 Pa. 

H. H. Burbank, 32 Me. 

(3. E. Bartlett, 31 Me. 

J. T. Chalfant, 11 Pa. 

C. H. Call, 29 111. 

J. D. Clyde, 76 N. Y. 

C. R. Cliauncey, 3-4 Mass. 

A. F. Cole, 59 N. Y. 

J. P. Carr, 93 Ind. 

H. P. Cooke, A. A. Gen. 

T. B. Camp, 52 Pa. 

E. Grant, 9 U. C. 

E. H. Green, 107 Pa. 

A. Grant, 19 Wis. 

A. L. Goo(Jrich, 8 N. Y. C. 



W. Dusbrow, 40 N. Y. 

A. Duzenburgh, 35 N. Y. 
E. B. Doane, 8 la. C. 

W. H. Davis, 4 Md. 

G. B. Donohey, 7 Pa. Res. 

L. B. Davis, 93 Ind. 

E. C. Dicey, 1 Mich. S. S. 

J. B. Dibeler, 45 Pa. 

S. S. Elder, 1 U. S. Art. 

B. W. Evans, 4 0. C. 
M. Eagan, 15 W. Va. 
N. C. Evans, 184 Pa. 
W. W. Farr, 106 Pa. 

E. W. Ford, 9 Minnesota. 

F. W. Funk, 39 N. Y. 
W. M. Fisk, 73 N. Y. 

J. L. Francis, 135 Ohio. 

D. Flamsburg, 4 Ind. Baty'. 
J. Fiedler, Eng.R.C. U.S.A. 
J. P. Fall, 32 Me. 

W. W. Fay, 56 Mass. 
J. B. Gillespie, 120 111. 

E. C. Gilbert, 152 N. Y. 
A. W. H. Gill, 14 N. Y. 
W.W. McCarty, 18 Ohio. 
J. W. Morton, 4 Mass. C. 
J. McHugh, 69 Pa. 

W. M. McFadden, 59 N. Y. 



30(; 



LIST OF PRISONERS, 



J. L. Galloway, A. A. G. 
J. L.Green, A. A. a U.S. A. 
C. Gutajahr, 16 111. 
P. Grayhara, 54 Pa. 
H. B. Huff, 184 Pa. 
W. R Hitt, 113 111. C. 
W. Harris, 24 Mo. C. 

C. A. Hobble, 17 Conn. C. 
T. A. Heer, 28 0. 

G. D. Hart, 5 Pa. C. 
H. B. Hoyt, 40 N. Y. C. 

D. J. Hume, 19 Mass. 

R. C. Hutchison, 8 Mich. 

C. W. Hastings, 12 Mass. 

E. Haynes, 95 N. Y. 
M. C. Hobart, 7 Wis. 
J. A. Hay den, 11 

W. L. Hodge, 120 111. 
H. A. Haines, 184 Pa. 
J. B. Hehemiis, 18 Ky. 
S. Hymer, 115 111. 
P. Hienrod, 105 Ohio. 

F. W. Heck, 2 Md. 
T. H. Hill, 2 Md. 

A. J. Holmes, 37 Wis. 
L. Ingledew, 7 Mich. 

B. A. Jobe, llPa. R. V. C. 

D. Jones, 14 N. Y. Art. 



H. McCray, 115 Pa. 

J. May, 15 Mass. Art. 

N. H. Moore, 7 N. Y. Art. 

S. F. Murray, 2 U. S. S. S. 

L. Marsh, 87 Pa. 

A. C. Mattison, 12 N. J. 

J. Metzger, 55 Pa. 

LeRoy Moore, 72 Pa. 

S. M. Morgan, A. A. Gen. 

M. McGraylis, 93 Ind. 

H. P. Merrill, 4 Ky. 

H. J. McDonald, 1 1 Conn. 

M. Melkorn, 135 O. 

J. A. Manley, (34 N. Y. 

A. G. Mudgett, 11 Me. 

B. J. McNitt, 1 Pa. C. 
L. Mclntyre, 15 Wis. 
L. Moore, 72 0. 

R. J. Millard, 2 Pa. Art. 
J. H. Nutting, 27 Mass.. 
L. Nolan, 2 Del. 

C. H. Nichols, 7 Conn. 
E. E. Norton, 24 Mich. 
W. H. Nash, 1 U. S. S. S. 
E. Newson, 81 111. 

A. Nuhfer, 72 Ohio. 
C. Newhn, 7 Pa. C. 
J. Norris, 2 Pa. Art. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



807 



S. C. Jiidson, lOG N. Y. 
H. Jenkins, 40 Mass. 
C. Gr. Jackson, 85 Pa. 
J. D. Johnson, 10 N. J. 
J. a. Kessler, 2 Ind. C. 
G. E. King, 103 111. 
P. D. Kenvon, 15 111. Bat. 

F. Kenfield, 17 Vt. 
W. S. Logan, 7 Mich. 
J. S. Little, 143 Pa. 
C. W. Lyttle, 145 Pa. 

G. Law, 6 W. Va. C. 

E. C.Latimer, 2 7 U.S. C.T. 
S. C. Pierce, 3 N. Y. C. 

B. B. Porter, ION. Y. Art. 
J. A. Paine, 2 Ind. C. 

T. Ping, 17 Iowa. 
J. Rourke, 1 111 Art. 
H. Ritter, 52 N. Y. 
W. J. Reynolds, 75 Ohio. 
A. C. Rosencranz, 4 Ind. C, 
— Reed, 107 N. Y. 
R. C. Richards, 45 Pa. 
W. J. Reynolds, 4 R. I. 
Geo. W. Reir, 107 N. Y. 

C. Robinson, 31 U.S.C. T. 
J. Snyder, 14 X. Y. 

a F. C. Smart, 145 Pa. 



C. S. Noyse, 31 Me. 
H. W. Ogan, 14 Ohio. 

H. V. Pemberton, 14X. Y. A. 
J. Parker, 1 N. J. 
J. P. Powell, 146 N. Y. 
L. B. Paine, 121 N. Y. 
J. T. Piggott, Jr., 8 Pa. C. 
W. B. Place, 87 U. S. 

D. H. Powers, 6 Mich C. 

A. C. Paul, A. A. Gen. 
G. Pettit, 120 M. Y. 

D. B. Pendleton, 5 Mich C. 
D. M. Porter, 120 111. 

B. T. Stewart, 138 Pa. 

D. W. Scott, 23 U. S. C. T. 
L. D. 0. Taylor, 106 Pa. 
S. C. Timpson, 95 N. Y. 
H. Tilbrand, 4 N. H. 
J. H. Turner, 15 Iowa. 
H. G. Tibbies, 12 Ohio. 
J. Thompson, 4 Ohio C. 
C.L. Unthank, 11 Ky C. 
H. A. UlfFar, A. A. Gen. 
J. Wuderwood, 57 Ohio. 
A. Yon Keiser, 30 N. Y. Bat. 
Z. Yanghn, I Me. C. 
A. Yon Haack, 68 N. Y 
J. H. West, 11 Ky. 



308 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



E. F. Wyman, 

W. Washburn, 35 Mass. 

A. R. Willis, 8 Me. 
U. S. Westbrook, 135 Ohio. 

B. F. Wright, 146 N. Y. 
W. M. Wilson, Jr., 122 Ohio. 
H. B. Wakefield, 55 Ind. 
G. W. Webb, 2 Pa. Art. 
J. Wilson, 57 Ohio. 
R. Wilhams, 12 Ohio. 
M. Wiley, 1 Tenn. 

E. Schofield,ll Pa. V.R.C. E. B. Whittaker, 72 Pa. 

C. B. Sutcher, IG 111. R. J. Wright, 6 Ohio. 

E. Shurtz, 8 Iowa C. H. H. Walpole, 122 N. Y. 

M. L. Stansbury, 95 Ohio. M. W. Wall, 69 N. Y. 

J. O. Snodgrass, 110 Ohio. D. O. Young, 81 111. 

H. R. Sargant, 32 Me. E. K. Zarracher, 18 Pa. C, 

S. U. Sherman, 4 R. I. 

LIEUTENANTS. 
H. H. Lyman, 147 N. Y. H. Lee Clark, 2 Mass. H. A 



H. J. Smith, 53 Pa. 
D. Schooley, 2 Pa. Art. 
H. W. Strang, 30 111. 
J. H. Smith, 16 Iowa. 
A. S. Skilton, 57 Ohio. 
W. Shittz, 37 Ohio. 
A. B. Smith, 48 111. 
R. R. Swift, 27 Mass. 
S. A. Spencer, 82 Ind. 
J. R. Stevens, 40 N. Y. 
E.J. Swan, 76 N. Y. 



M. Ahern, 10 Va. 
C. L. Alstead, 54 N. Y. 
S. A. Albro, 80 111. 
Jas. Adams, 80 111. 
W. D. Adair, 51 Ind. 
H. Appel, 1 Md. C. 
R. W. Anderson, 122 0. 
H. F. Anshutz, 12 Va. 



L. C. Bisby, 16 Me. 
M. Beedle, 123 N. Y. 
C. T. Barclay, 149 Pa. 
J. D. Bisby, 16 Me. 
S. a. l^oone, 88 Pa. 
I). S. Bartram; 17 Conn. 
Jas. Burns, 57 Pa. 
S. H. Ballard, 6 Mich. C. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



309 



F. S. Armstrong, 122 0. 
H. M. Anderson, 3 Me. 
J. H. Ahlert, 45 N. Y. 
C. L. Anderson, 3 la. 

G. D. Acker, 123 0. 
H. W. Adams, 37 111. 

E. E. Andrews, 22 Midi. 
A. AUee, IG 111 C. 

H. S. Alban, 79 111. 
R. J. Allen, 2 E. Temi. 
P. Atkin, 2 E. Tenn. 
A. B. Alger, 22 0. B. 
J. W. Austin, 5 la. 
Michael Ahern, 10 Ya. 
H. C. Abernathy, 16 111. C. 
T. I. Brownell, 51 Ind. 
J. W. Barlow, 51 Ind. "^ 
J. a. Blue, 3 0. 
O. P. Barnes, 3 0. 
G. \Y. Bailey, 3 0. 
J. L. Brown, 73 Ind. 

A. H. Booher, 73 Ind. 
J. F. Bedwell, 80 0. 

W Blanchard, 2 U. S. C. 

B. F. Blair, 123 O. 

H. S. Bevington, 123 0. 

F. W. Boyd, 123 0. 

F. A. Breckenridge, 123 



S. T. Boughton, 71 Pa. 
M. M. Bassett, 53 J 11. 
R. Y. Bradford, 2 W. T. 
W. Bricker, 3 Pa. C. 
J. T. Brush, 100 0. 
0. G. Ballow, 100 0. 
J. F. Baird, 1 Ya. 

E. G. Birun, 3 Mass. 
G. E. Blaire, 17 0. 
Jas. Biggs, 123 III 

Y. Bickham, 19 U. S. 
J. P. Brown, 15 U. S. 
M. C. Bryant, 42 III 
0. B. Brandt, 1 7 O. 
G. W. Button, 22 Mich. 

C. A. Burdick, 10 Wis. 
J. L. Brown, 73 Ind. 

F. T. Bennett, 18 U. S. 
Jno. Baird, 89 0. 

W. 0. Butler, 10 Wis. 

D. A. Bannister, 59 0. 
Jno. Bradford, C. S. 

G. R. Barse, 5 Mich C. 
C. P. Butler, 29 Ind. 

E. P. Brooks, 6 Wis. 
W. L. Brown, R. 0. 
.G. W. Buffun, 1 Wis. 

Guy Bryan, 18 Pa. C. 



310 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



Jiio. D. Babb, 5 Md. 
J. a. W. Brueting, 5 Md. 
T. J. Borchers, 67 Pa. 
W. Bierbovver, 87 Pa. 
a C. Bleak, 3 Me. 
W. H. Berry, 5 111. C. 
H. Bath, 45 N. Y. 
Jno. H. Conn, 1 Va. C. 

S. Carpenter, 3 O. 

W. A. Curry, 3 0. 

R. J. Connelly, 73 Ind. 

A. M'Callahan, 73 Ind. 

J. W. Custed, 23 Ind. 

J. D. Cook, 6 la. 

J. Carothers, 78 0. 

S. K Colloday, 6 Pa. C. 

T. B. Calver, 123 O. 

L. B. Comins, 17 Mass. 

J. H. Cook, 5 Md. 

J. H. Chandler, 5 Md. 

E. D. Carpenter, 18 Conn. 

H. F. Cowles, 18 Conn. 

W. Christopher, 2 Va. C. 

J. Q. Carpenter, 150 Pa. 

H.B.Chamberlain,97N.Y. 

T. J. Crossley, 57 Pa. 

J. A. Carman, 107 Pa. 

J. A. Coffin, 157 N. Y. 



S. S. Baker, 6 Mo. 
H. Bader, 29 Mo. 
8. H. Byers, 5 la. 
W. L. Bath, 132 N. Y. 
Geo. M. Bush, U. S. T. 
A. H. Bassett, 79 111. 
J. C. Col well, 16 111. C. 
0. L. Cole, 51 111. 
Rudolph Curtis, 4 Ky. C. 
M. C. Causton, 19 U. S. 
E. Cottingham, 35 0. 
W. CHflford, 16 U. S. 

M. Cohen, 4 Ky. C. 

A. S. Cooper, 9 Md. 

J. F. Carter, 9 Md. 

W. A. Crawford, 2 E. T. 

C. W. Catlett, 2 E. T. 

C. J. Carlin, 151 N. Y. 

H. Cuniflfe, 13 111. 

C. H. Coasdorph, 8 V. C. 

G. W. Carey, 65 Ind. 

J. Ct. Dougherty, 51 Ind. 

J. A. Dilan, 51 Ind. 

A. F. Dooley, 51 Ind. 

T. B. Dewies, 2 U. S. 

M. Diemer, 10 Mo. 

y. R. Davis, 123 O. 

C. a. Davis, 1 Mass. C. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



311 



I). J. Connelly, 63 N. Y. 
J. U. Childs, 16 Me. 
I). B. Caldwell, 75 O. 
W. B. Cook, 140 Pa. 
J. W. Chandler, 1 Va. C. 
H A. Cnrtiss, 157 N. Y. 
J. Chatboni, 150 Pa. 
S. E. Car J, 13 Ma^s. 

A. Cloadt, 119 N. Y. 
J. Clement, 15 Ky. C. 
a. A. Chandler, 15 Mo. 
J. H. Cain, 104 N. Y. 

B. Coles, 2 N. Y. C. 
J. B. CarHsle, 2 Va. 

a. B. Coleman, 1 Mass. C. 
G. A. Coffin, 21) Ind. 
J. L. Cox, 21 111. 
W. N. Cnll)ertson, 30 Ind. 

F. G. Cochran, 77 Pa. 
Geo. Cleghorn, 21 0. 
W. W. Calkins, 104 111. 

G. Celly, 4 0. C. 

H. B. Crawford, 2 111. 
T. S. Coleman, 12 Ky. 
W. A. Daily, 8 Pa. C. 
E. H. Duncan, 2 E. T. 
A. Dieffenbach, 73 Pa. 

C. L, Edmunds, 67 Pa. 



L. N. Dueherney, I Mass. C. 
J. R. Day, 3 Me. 
J. S. Devine, 71 Pa. 
Geo. A. Deering, 16 Me. 

A. Dixon, 104 X. Y. 
Jno. Daily, 104 N. Y. 
C. H. Drake, 142 Pa. 

B. Davis, 71 Pa. 

A. K. Dunkle, 114 Pa. 

F. Donyley, 27 R. I. 

J. W. Drake, 136 N. Y. 

C. D. Dillard,7la. 
J. W. Day, 17 Mass. 

J. M. Dushane, 142 Pa. 
0. G. Deugton, 100 0. 
T. G. Darnin, 16 U. S. 
H. C. Dunn, 10 Ky. 
W. G. Dutton, 67 Pa. 
L. Drake, 22 Mich. 

E. J. Davis, 44 111. 
M.J, Dickey, 94 0. 
Jno^ Dugan. 35 Ind. 
Thos. J. Dean, 5 Mich. 
Jno. Davidson, 6 N Y. A. 
J. Gilmore, 79 N. Y. 

S. P. Gamljle, 63 Pa. 

G. L. Garrett, 4 Mo. C. 

F. M. Gilleland, 15 Kv. 



312 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



D. C. Edwards, 2 Md. 
J. Egan, 69 Pa. 

S. Edmiston, 89 0. 

W. H. EUenwood, 10 Wis. 

C. W. Earle, 96 111. 

G. H. Ericksoii, 57 N. Y. 

Geo. W. Fish, 3 0. 

A. Frey, 73 Ind. 

J. A. Francis, 18 Comi. 

W. Flick, 67 Pa. 

J. M. Fales, 1 R. I. C. 

L. P. Fortescue, 29 Pa. 

M. Fellows, 149 Pa. 

W. Fenner, 2 R. I. C. 

G. D. Forsytli, 100 0. 

G. H. Fowler, 100 0. 

J. C. Fishier, 7 Ind. B. 

T. C. Freeman, 18 U. S. 

R. J. Fisher, 17 Mo. 

Chas. Fritze, 24 111. 

J. A. Flemming, 90 N. Y. 

E. F. Foster, 30 Ind. 
H. Fairchild, 10 Wis. 

0. P. Fairchild, 89 0. 
W. H. Follette, Mass. A. 
A. W. Fritchie, 26 Mo. 

1. Fontaine, 73 Pa. 

E. H. Fobes, 131 N. Y. 



Geo. H. Gamble, 8 111. C. 

D. Garlet, 77 Pa. 
T. Gross, 21 111. 

H. Gerhardt, 24 111. 
R. H. Gray, 15 U. S. 
J. M. Goff, 10 Wis. 
W. G. Galloway, 15 U. S. 
J. H. Gageby, 19 U. S. 
R. C. Gates, 18 U. S. 
C. W. Green, 44 Ind. 
J. B. Gore, 15 111. 
J. A. Green, 13 Pa. C. 
W. W. Glazier, 2 N. Y. C. 

E. Gordon, 81 Ind. 
A. L. Gates, 10 Wis. 
M. Gray, 13 N. Y. 
W. G. Griffin, 112 111. 

C. Greble, 8 Mich. C. 
Geo. Good, 84 Pa. 

M. E. Green, 5 Md. C. 
J. B. Holmes, 6 O. 
Jno. Hood, 80 111. 
R. J. Harmer, 80 111. 
W. H. Harvey, 51 Ind. 
G. D. Hand, 51 Ind. 

D. H. Harns, 3 0. 
Jno. Haideman, 129 111. 
H. S. Horton, 101 Pa. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



313 



D. D. Fox, 16 111. C. 
A. Glide, 51 Iiid. 

H. Gamble, 73 Ind. 
Jno. A. Garces, 1 Md. C. 
Th. G. Good, 1 Md. C. 
C. M. Gross, 100 0. 
S. L. Gilman, 3 M. 
G. W. Grant, 88 Pa. 
A. Goodwill, 82 0. 
O. Grierson 45 N. Y. 

F. C. Gay, 11 Pa. 

C. F. Gutlaud, 134 N. Y. 

E. G. Gorgiis, 90 Pa. 
H. H. Hinds, 57 Pa. 
Thos. Huggins, 2 N. Y. 
Eiig. Hepp, 82 111. 

C. P. Heffley, 142 Pa. 
J. M. Henry, 154 N. Y, 

G. Halpin, 116 Pa. 

E. H. Harkness, 6 Pa. C. 
J. D. Hatfield, 53 111. 
A. W. Hayes, 34 0. 
J. F. Hammond, R. B. 
H. Hubbard, 12 N. Y. 
W. S. Hatcher, 30 0. 
Jno. Hine, 100 0. 
M. B. Helmes, 1 Va. C. 
C. B. Hall, 1 Va. C. 



W. E. Hodge, 5 Md. 

W. Hawkins, 5 Md. 

D. W. Hakes, 18 Conn. 

J. D. Higgins, 18 Conn. 

W. Heifner, 67 Pa. 

F. A. Hubble, 67 Pa. 

J. C. Hagenbacli, 67 Pa 

J. Hersli, 87 Pa. 

J. Hall, 87 Pa. 

P. Horney, 110 0. 

T. J. Higginson, M. C. 

J. G. Hallenl)erg, 1 0. 

A. Hauf, 54 N. Y. 

C. W. Jones, 16 Pa. C. 

P. 0. Jones, adj't, 2 K. Y. C. 

J. A. Jones, 21 111. 

J. H. Jenkins, 21 Wis. 

R. W. Jackson, 21 Wis. 

T. W. Johnson, 10 N. Y. C. 

H. P. Jordan, 9 Md. 

H. Jones, 5 U. S. C. 

R. B. Jones, 2 E. T. 

H. H. James, 6 Ind. C. 

John King, 5 111 C. 

M. D. King, 3 0. 

A. J. Kuhn, 5 Md. 

H V. Knight, 20 Mich. 

J. S. Kephart, 5 Md. C. 



314 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



Eli Holdeii, 1 Va. C. 

B. Howe, 21 111. 

P.W. HoiilcheD, 16 U. S. 

C. D. Henry, 4 0. C. 
J. Hanoi], 115 111. 

C. E. Harrison, 89 0. 

Geo. Harris, 79 Ind. 

W. B. Hamilton, 22 Mich. 

S. S. Holbruck, 15 U. S. 

L. D. Henkley, 10 Wis. 

E. G Higby, 33 0. 

W. M. Hudson, 92 0. 

H. Horway, 78 111. 

C. F. Hall, 13 Mich. 

G. C. Houston, 2 N. Y. C. 

P. A. Hagen, 7 Md. 

J. R Hutchinson, 2 Va. C. 

G. W. Hale, 101 O. 

R. Huey, 2 E. T. 

W. P. Hodge, 2 E. T. 

E. Harbour, 2 E. T. 

B.F.Herrington, 18Pa.C. 

Jas. Heslit, 3 Pa. C. 

Jno. Hoffman, 5 la. 

T. W. Hayes, 5 la. 

M. Hoffman, 5 la. 

J. M. HoUoway, 6 Ind. 

C. M. Hart, 45 Pa. 



Jas. Kerin, (3 U. S. C. 
J. B. King, 10 N. Y. C. 
G. Keyes, 18 Conn. 
J. N. Kibbee, 18 Conn. 
A. Kresge, 67 Pa. 
R. O. Knowles, 110 0. 
H. Kendler, 45 N. Y. 
M. Kupp, 167 Pa. 
Jas. Kane, 13 Pa. C. 
P. C. Knaggs, A. D. C. 
J. Kunkel, 45 N. Y. 
J. W. Kennedy, 134 N. Y. 
J. C. Kellogg, 6 Mich. 

D. O. Kelly, 100 (). 
J. D. Kautz, 1 Ky. C. 
T. A. Krocks, 77 Pa. 
T. D. Kimball, 88 Ind. 
Wm. Krueger, 2 Mo. 

E. E. Knoble, 21 Ky. 
E. M. Knowler, 42 Ind. 
J. Keniston, 100 111. 

S. Koach, 100 111. 

C. E. Keath, 19 111. 
Theo. Kendall, 15 U. S. 
H. B. Kelly, 6 Ky. C. 

D. F. Kittrell, 3 E. T. 
W. S. Lyon, 23 O. 

T. Lemiig, 6 Pa. C. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



315 



J. P. Jones, 55 0. 
C. L. Irwin, 78 111. 
A. H. Lindsay, 18 Conn. 
L. Lapton, 116 0. 
W. H. Locke, 18 Conn. 
J. Leydecker, 45 N. Y. 
L. Lindemeyer, 45 N. Y. 
H. G. Lombard, 4 Mich. 
W. L. Laws, 18 Pa. C. 
A. T. Lamson, 104 N. Y. 
A. W. Locklin, 94N. Y. 
a. R. Lodge, 53 111. 
T. Lloyd, 6 Ind. C. 

C. H. Livingston, 1 Va. C. 
J. L. Leslie, 18 Pa. C. 

D. R. Locke, 8 Ky. C. 
J. Ludlow, 5 U. S. A. 
A. Leonard, 71 N. Y. 
W. J. Lintz, 8 Tenn. 
Jno. McAdams, 10 Ya. 
L. Markbreit, A. D. C. 
J. McKinstry, IG 111. C. 
T. Milward, 31 0. 

W. H. McDill, 80 111. 
W. S. Marshall, 51 Ind. 
J. H. Murdock, 3 O. 
C. A. Maxwell, 3 0. 
H. S. Murdock, 73 Ind. 



F. A. Leyton, 18 Ind. 

A. W. Loorais, 18 Conn. 

B. N. Mann, 17 Mass. 
J. A. Mitchell, 82 O. 
A. McDade, 154 N. Y. 
J. A. Mendenhall, 75 0- 
J. R. Mell, 82 111. 

V. Myheus, 68 N. Y. 
F. Moran, 73 N. Y. 
J. Mooney, 107 Pa. 

F. Murphy, 97 N. Y. 

G. H. Morisey, 12 la. Q. M. 
H. E. Mosher, ] 2 N. Y. C. 
S. T. Merwin, 18 Conn. 
Thos. Maver, 100 O. 

T. H. McKee, 21 III 
J. W. Messick, 42 Ind. 
D. F. McKay, 18 Pa. 
R. G-. McKay, 1 Mich. 
Wm. McEboy, 3 111. 
N. S. McKee, 21 111. 
J. Mitchell, 79 III. 
J. McGowan, 29 Ind. 
M. Mahon, 16 U. S. 
J. F. Mackey, 16 U. S. 

C. H. Morgan, 21 Wis. 
A. S. Mathews, 22 Mich. 
J. S. Mahony, 15 U. S. 



310 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



J. D. Mimday, 73 Iiicl 
J. S. Mettee, 5 Md. 
Jno. McCiimas, 5 Md. 
^y. J. Morris, 5 Md. 
T. F. Mcainiies, 18 Conn. 
F. McKeag, 18 Conn. 
H. Morningstar, 87 Pa. 
J. S. Manning, 100 0. 
Thos. Mosbey, 12 Pa. C. 
D. McNiel, 13 Pa. C. 
W. A. Mnrray, 106 X. Y. 
H. Moultin, 1 U. S. 
L. Mayer, 12 Pa. C. 
W. J. McConnelee, 4 la. 
D. McCully, 75 0. 
O. Mussehl, 68 N. Y. 
H. H. Moseley, 25 O. 
Thos. Myers, 107 Pa. 
C. Murry, 15 Mo. 
J. McBeth, 45 0. 
R. H. Montgomery, 5 U. S.C. 
F. Moore, 73 Pa. 
J. McGovern, 73 Pa. 
A. McNiece, 73 Pa., 
a. Maw, 80 G. 
J. F. Morgan, 17 Mich. 
C. Miller, 14 111. C. 
W. J. Xowlan, 14 N. Y. 



S. McNeal, 51 0. 
L. C. Mead, 22 Mich. 
A. U. McCane, 2 0. 
M. V. Morrison, 32 O. 
A. H. Makinson, 10 AYis. 
W. H. Mead, 6 Ky. C. 
A. Morse, 78 111. 
A. Morris, 4 Ky. C. 
J. McKinley, 28 0. 
H. Morey, 10 X. Y. C. 
G. W. Moore, 9 Md. 
H. F. Meyer, 9 Md. 
R A. Moon, 6 Mich. C. 
M. M. Moore, 6 Mich. C. 
John Millis, GG Ind. 
J. McDonald, 2 E. T. 
J. McColgen, 7 0. C. 

D. T. Moore, 2 E. T. 
J. H. Mason, 21 0. 

L. D. Phelps, 8 Pa. C. 
C. M. Brutzman, 7 Wis. 
A. E. Patelin, 10 Wis. 
M. B. Pulliani, 1 1 Ky. C. 
R. M. Pond, 12 U. S. 
W. P. Pierce, 11 Ky. C. 
S. B. Petrie, 126 0. 
Wm. Randall, 80 111. 

E. W. Pelton, 2 Md. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



17 



A. N. Norris, 107 Pa. 
Wm. Nelson, 13 U. S. 

J. C. Norcross, 2 Mass. C. 
J. F. Newbrandt, 4 Mo. C. 
AVm. Nyce, 2 N. Y. C. 

B. H. Niemeger, 11 Ky. C. 
0. P. Norris, 111 0. 
Jno. O'Connor, 59 0. 

O. C. Oug, 2 Ya. C. 
E. W. Pelton, 2 Md. 
E. W. Parcey, SO 111. 
S. B. Piper, 3 0. 
a A. Pottee, 2 Ky. 
J. B. Piimphrey, 123 0. 
W. G. Purnell, 6 Md. 

C. a A. Peterson, 1 R I. C 
E. B. Parker, 1 R. I C. 
Henry S. Plait, 11 Mich. 
E. C. Parker, 94 N. Y. 

H. C. Potter, 18 Pa. C. 
T. Paulding, 6 U. S. C. 
J. F. Poole, 1 Ya. C. 
J. L. Powers, 107 N. Y. 

D. B. Pettijohn, 2 U. S. 
a H. Potts, 74 0. 

C. P. Potts, 151 Pa. 

E. Potter, 6 Mich. 

E. L. Palmer, 57 N. Y. 



Jno. Ritchie, 3 0. 
J. C. Roney, 3 0. 
Wm. Reynolds, 73 Ind. 
A. C. Roach, 51 Ind. 
E. Reynolds, 1 Tenn. C. 
E. Reed, 3 0. 
J. M. Rothrock, 5 Mo. 
J. P. Rockwell, 18 Conn. 
J. Rnff, 67 Pa. 
J. F. Robinson, 67 Pa. 
W. F. Randolph, 5 U. S. A. 
John Ryan, 69 Pa. 
W. E. Rockwell, 134 N. Y. 
J. H. Russel, 12 Mass. 
J. 0. Rockwell, 97 N. Y. 
. J. A. Richardson, 2 N. Y. C. 
N. A. Robinson, 4 Me. 
H. E. Rulon 114 Pa. 
H. Richardson, 19 Ind. 
J. Remie, 11 Mass. 
Geo. Ring, 100 0. 
I). P. Rennie, 73 0. 
T. J. Ray, 49 0. 
W. L. Retilley, 51 0. 
G. W. Robertson, 22 Mich. 
J. M. Rader, 8 Tenn. 
S. H. Reynolds, 42 0. 
E. W. Rubbs, 1 E. T. 



318 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



J. S. Paul, 122 0. 
Z. R. Prather, 116 111. 
a. Pentzel, 11 N. Y. 
Jas. Perley, 13 Mich. 
H. Perleen, 2 0. 
J. V. Patterson, 1 C). C. 
W. N. Paxtoii, 140 Pa. 

C. Powell, 42 0. 

J. a. Spalding, 2 U. S. C. 
A. Stole, 6 U. S. 

D. M. V. Stuart, 10 Mo. 
M. H. Smith, 123 0. 

T. H. Stewart, 5 Md. 
John Sachs, 5 Md. 
Jno. Sweadner, 5 Md. 
J. F. Shuylar, 123 0. 
C. H. Sowro, 123 O. 

E. L. Schroeder, 5 Md. 
a. W. Simpson, 67 Pa. 
A. Gr. Scranton, 18 Conn. 
J. Smith, 67 Pa. 

C. P. Stroman, 87 Pa. 
A. M. Stark, 110 (). 
H. L. Sibley, 116 0. 
S. Stearns, 4 Md. 
a. L. Snyder, 104 N. Y. 
A. W. Sprague, 24 Mich. 
Geo. Schuele, 45 N. Y. 



Gr. F. Robinson, 80 0. 
L. S. Smith, 14 N. Y. 
D. J. Shepherd, 5 Ky. C. 
H. Silver, 16 111. C. 
G. Scuttermore, 80 111. 
Th. Segar, 80 111. 

D. B. Stevenson, 3 0. 

E. E. Sharp, 51 Ind. . 
G. L. Sollers, 9 Md. 
L. L. Stone, Q. M. 

R. F. Scott, 11 Ky. C. 
J. C. Shaw, 7 0. C. 
L. W. Sutherland, 126 O. 
T. B. String, 11 Ky C. 
Chas. Sutler, 39 N. Y. 
Jno. H. Stevens, 5 Me. 
Chas. Trommel, 3 (). 
H. H. Tillotson, 73 Ind. 
A. N. Thomas, 73 Ind. 
D. Turner, 118 111. 
Ira Tyler, 118 111. 
M. Tiffany, 18 Conn. 
H. 0. Thayer, 67 Pa. 
A. A. Taylor, 122 Pa. 
R. Tyler, 6 Md. 
R. Thompson, 67 Pa. 
L. Thompson, 2 U. S. C. 
M. Tower, 13 Mas. 



LIST OF PKISONEES. 



319 



H. B. Seeley, 86 N. Y. 
W. S. Stevens, 104 N. Y. 
E. Schroeders, 74 Pa. 
G. C. Stevens, 154 N. Y. 

D. C. Sears, 96 N. Y. 
H. Schroeder, 82 111. 

J. B. Samson, 2 Mass. H. A. 
Jno. Sullivan, 7 R. 1. 
M. R. Small, 6 Md. 

E. Shepard, 6 0. C. 
J. M. Steele, 1 Va. 
C. Smith, 4 N. Y. C. 
Jno. Sterling, 3 Ind. 

F. Spencer, 17 (J. 

A. W. Songer, 21 111. 
Wni. Stewart, 16 U. S. 
W. H. Smith, 16 U. S. 
J. D. Simpson, 10 Ind 
F. Schweinthrth, 24 111. 
A. C. SpaiFord, 21 0. 
E. G. Spalding, 22 Mich. 
E. S. Scott, 89 0.; 
A. C. ShaeiFer, 2 N. Y\ C. 
H. C. Smith, 2 Del. 
Jno. Spindler, 73 111. 
R. P. Wallace; 120 0. 
Thos. Worthen, 118 111. 
L. Weiser, 1 Md. C. 



E. A. Tuthill, 104 N.Y. 

J. R. Titus, 3 U. S. C. 

H. Temple, 2 N. Y. C. 

E. M. B. Timoney, 15 U. S. 

G. W. Thomas, 10 Wis. 

H. C. Taylor, 21 Wis. 

A. J. Tuter, 2 0. 

R. F. Thorn, 5 Ky. C. 

S. H. Tresoutheck,18Pa.C. 

J. Turner, Q. M. 

H. Taylor, 65. Ind. 

A. J. W. Ullen, 3 O. 

T. R. Uptigrove, 73 Ind. 

M. Undutch, 9 Md. 

G. A. Van n ess, 73 Ind. 

Geo. Veltford, 54 N. Y. 

R. N. Vannetter, 1 Mich. C. 

D. Vansbury, 4 Md. B. 

D. L. Wright, 51 Ind. 

A. H. Wonder, 51 Ind. 

Wm. Willis, 51 Ind. 

I. D. Whiting, 3 0. 

A. K. Wolbach, 3 0. 

J. C. Woodrow, 73 Ind. 

C. P. Williams, 73 Ind. 

C. N. Winner, 1 0. 

W. L. Watson, 21 Wis. 

Wm. Willots, 22 Mich. 



320 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



Wm. A. Williams, 123 0. 
J. W. Wooth, 5 McL 
J. B. Wilson, 5 Md. 
J. E. Woodard, 18 Conn. 
P. A. White, 83 Pa. 
E.J. Weeks, 67 Pa. 
T.J. Weakley, 110 O. 
W.H. Welsh, 78 Pa. 
A. Wallber, 26 Wis. 
A. H. White, 27 Pa. 

D. Whitson, 13 Mass. 
T. Wuschow, 54 N. Y. 
M. Wadsworth, 16 Me. 

J. N. Whitney, 2 P. I. C. 

M. F. WiUiams, 15 Ky. 

M. Wilson, 14 Pa. C. 

J. Woods, 82 Ind. 

J. R. Charnel, 1 111. Art. 

W. S. Damrell, 13 Mass. 

AY. Ct. Davis, 27 Mass. 

S. V. Dean, 145 Pa. 

J. S. Drennan, 1 Vt. Art. 

J. Dunn, 64 N. Y. 

A. J. Dunning, 7 N. Y. Art. 

J. Donovan, 2 N. J. 

E. B. Dyre, 1 Conn. C. 
W. C. Dorris, 111 111. 
H. a. Dodge, 2 Pa. C. 



J. Weatherbee, 51 0. 
J. M. Wasson, 40 0. 
Jas. Wells, 8 Mich. C. 
H. Wilson, 18 Pa. C. 
J.R.AYeaver, 18 Pa. C. 
W. H. H. Wilcox, lON.Y. 
A. B. White, 4 Pa. C. 
C. F. Weston, 21 Wis. 
W. F. Wheeler, 9 Md. 
N. L. Wood, Jr., 9 Md. 
E. Wilhort, 2 E. Tenn. 
J. W. Wilshire, 45 0. 
J. W. Wright, 10 la. 
Hyde Crocker, 1 N. Y. C. 
J. B. Williamson, 14 W. Va. 

C. H. Gates, 96 111. 
Sam Leith, 132 N. Y. 
S. Fatzer, 108 N. Y. 

E. Fontaine, 7 Pa. P. C. 

D. Forney, 30 0. 
S. Fisher, 93 Ind. 
D.S.Finney, 14 and 15 111. V. 
L. Fitzpatrick, 146 N. Y. 
L. D. C. Fales, 

H. C. Foster, 23 Ind. 
John Foley, 59 Mass. 
Louis Faass, 14 N. Y. Art. 
R J. Frost, 9 ^[ich. C. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



321 



C. Downs, 33 N. J. 
J. Duven, 5 N. H. 
W. H. Dorfee, 5 R. I. 
G-. Dorbine, GG N. Y. 



G. J. George, 40 111. 
T. M. Gunii, 21 Ky. 
J. Gottshell, 55 Pa. 
J. M. Godowii, 12 Iiid. 



W.H.Dieffenbach,7Pa.Res.H. D. Grant, 117 N. Y. 
R. DeLay, 3 Iowa C. J. A. Goodwin, 1 Mass. C. 

O. W. Demmick, 11 N. H. C. V. Granger, 88 N. Y. 



L. Dick, 72 O. 
E. Dickerson, 44 Wis. 
D. Driscoll, 24 Mo. 
H. G. Dorr, 4 Mass. C. 
J. M. Drake, 9 N. J. 



C. 0. Gordon, 1 Me. C. 
J. W. Goss, 1 Mass. Art. 
H. U. Gordon, 143 Pa. 
J. Gallagher, 4 Ohio Vet. 
E. A. Green, 81 111. 



H. A. Downing, 31 U.S.C.T. T. GrifFen, 55 U. S. C. T. 



J. W. Davison, 95 0. 
G. H. Drew, 9 N. H. 
Chas. Everrett, 70 Ohio. 

F. R. Eastman, 2 Pa. C. 
J. L. F. Elkin, 1 N. J. 
T. E. Evans, 52 Pa. 

J. W. Eyestone, 13 Ind. 
T. K. Eckings, 3 N. J. 
John Eagan, 1 U. S. A. 
John Elder, 8 Ind. 
J. Fairbanks, 72 Ohio. 

G. E. Finney, 19 Ind. 
J. M. Ferris, 3 Mich. 
E. M. Faye, 42 N. Y. 
J. Fnrgeson, 1 N. J. 



M. L. Godley, 17 Ohio. 

Phihp Grey, 72 Pa. 

A. M. Hall, 9 Minn. 

E. R. Hart, 1 Yt. Art. 

J. F. Hodge, 55 Pa. 

R. F. Hall, 75 Ohio. 

J. T. Haight, 8 Iowa C. 

G. W. Hill, J Mich. C. 

E. J. Hazel, 6 Pa. C. 

R. Herbert, 50 Pa. 

S. H. Horton, 101 Pa. 

W. B. Hurd, 17 Mich C. 

E. Holden, 1 Yt. C. 

S. P. Hedges, 112 N. Y. C. 

H. C. Hinds, 102 N. Y. 



322 LIST OF PRISONEKS. 

D. Flanneiy, 4 N. J. J. Hopper, 2 N. Y. C. 
H. M. Fowler, 15 N. J. C. 0. Hunt, 5 Me. Bat. 
a W. Flager, 11 Pa. R. C. W. R. Hulland, 5 Md. C. 

C. A. Fagan, 11 Pa. R. C. d. W. Hull, 135 Ohio. 

H. French, 3 Vt. D. W. Hazelton, 22 N. Y. C. 

L. W. Fisher, 4 Vt. C. P. Holaham, 19 Pa. C. 

H. N. Hamilton, 59 N. Y. J. F. Kempton, 75 Ohio. 

E. S. Huntington, 11 U. S. J. H. Kidd, 1 Md. Art. 
W. H. Hoyt, 16 Iowa. R. H. Kendrick, 25 Wis. 
R. M. Hughes, 14 111. C. O. C. Kenyon, 17 111. 

J. Hewitt, 105 Pa. G. C. Kidder, 113 Pa. 

J. Heston, 4 N. J. O. Knox, 109 Pa. 

J. Heifelfinger, 7 Pa. R. V. J. M. Kelly, 4 Tenn. 

J. L. Harvey, 2 Pa. Art. F.H. Kempton, 58 Mass. Art. 

H. V. Hadley, 7 Ind. J. R. Kelly 1 Pa. C. 

M. v. B. Hallett, 2 Pa. C. J. C. Knox, 4 Ind. C. 

A. J. Henry, 120 111. Ade King, 12 Ohio. 

V. G. Hoalladay, 2 Ind. C. J. Kepheart, 13 Ohio. 

D. Havens, 85 111. J. Kellow, 2 Pa. Art. 
C. A. Hays, 11 Pa. G. L. Kibby, 4 R. I. 
J.L.Hastings, 7 Pa. R. V. C. C. E. Lewis, 1 N. Y. Drag. 
J. ^Y. Harris, 2 Ind. C. J. B. Laycock, 7 Pa. R. V. C. 

F. Herzbery, 6G N. Y. H. H. Lyman, 147 N. Y. 
J. T. Haight, 8 Iowa C. W. H. Larrabee, 7 Me. 

E. H. Higley, 1 Vt. C. A. Lee, 152 N. Y. 
W.H.Hendryks, 11 Mich. B. J. L.- Lynn, 145 Pa. 

J. Huston, 95 Ohio. E. De C. Loud, 2 Pa. Art. 

R. Henderson, 1 Mass. Art. M. S. Ludwig, 53 Pa. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



323 



A. N. Hackett, 110 0. 
S. P. Hand, 43 U. S. C. T. 
T. B.Hmst, 7Pa.Res.V.C. 
Geo. Hopf, 2 Md. 
0. M. Hill, 1 Mo. Art. 
J. B. Hogue, 4 Pa. C. 
L. E. Haywood, 58 Mass. 
A. B. Tsham, 7 Mich. C. 
H. A. Johnson, 3 Me. 
C. K. Johnson, 1 Me. C. 
a. W. Jenkins, 9 W. Va. 
J. C. Justus, 2 Pa. R. V. C. 
S. E. Jones, 7 N. Y. Art. 
J. W. Johnson, 1 Mass. Art. 
Alfred Jones, 50 Pa. Vet. 
J. Jacks, 15 W. Va. 
P. Krohn, 5 N. Y. C. 
E. Kendrick, 10 N. J. 
S. C. Kerr, 126 Ohio. 
H. T. Kendall, 50 Pa. 
A. Kelly, 126 Ohio. 
J. Keen, 7 Pa. V. R C. 
J. D. Kennuly, 8 Ohio C. 
J. G. B. Adams, 19 Mass. 
E. P. Alexander, 26 Mich. 
H. M. Anderson, 3 Me. 
J. F. Anderson, 2 Pa. Art. 
A. L . Abbey, 8 Mich. C. 



D. W. Lewry, 2 Pa. Art. 
J. Lyman, 27 Mass. 

J. O. Laird, 35 U. S. 
M. Laird, 16 Iowa. 
J. C. Luther, Pa. V. R. C. 
M. W. Lemon, 14 N. Y. Art. 
L. M. Lane, 9 Minn. 
T. D. Lamson, 3 Ind. C. 
A. Limbard, McLau's S. Q. M. 
a. H. Lawrence, 2 N. Y. M. R. 
C. H. Lang, 59 Mass. 
J. Monaghan, Q2 Pa. 
J. C. McLitosh, 145 Pa. 
F. W. Mather, 7 N. Y. Art. 
P. B. Mockrie, 7 N. Y. Art. 

E. T. McCutcheon, 64 N. Y. 
E. J. McWain, 1 N. Y. Art. 
J. McKage, 184 Pa. 

S. F. MutHey, 184 Pa. 
H. F. Mangus, 53 Pa. 
J. McLaughlin, 53 Pa. 
W. A. McGinnes, 19 Mass. 
A. D. Mathews, 1 Vt. Art. 
W. C. Adams, 2 Ky. C. 
E.T.Effleck, 170 O.Nat.G. 
E. A. Abbott, 23 0. Vet. Vol 
Count S. Brady, 2 N. J. C.' 
A. Bulow, 3 N. J. C. 



324 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



A. 0. Abbott, 1 N. Y. Drag. 
A. S. Appelget, 2 N. J. C. 
Robert Allen, 2 N. J. Drag, 
G. A. Austin, 14 111. Bat. 
a. C. Alden, 112 111. 

C. A. Brown, 1 N. Y Art 
W. R. Bospord, 1 N. Y. 
J. L. Barton, 49 Pa. 

W. Buchanan, 76 N. Y. 
\Y. Blane, 43 N. Y. 
J. H. Bristol, 1 Conn. C. 
H. H. Dixbj, 9 Me. 

D. W. Burkholder, 7 Pa. V. 
S. Brum, 81 111. 

W. H. Brady, 2 Del. 
J. Breon, 148 Pa. 
a. N. Burnett, 4 Ind. C. 
W. J. Boyd, 5 Mich C. 
S.W.Burrows, 1 N.Y.Yet.C. 
M. BrickenhofF, 42 N. Y. 
H.Buckley, 4N. H. Vol. 
A. T. Barnes, 111. Yet. Batt. 
J. L. Beasley, 81 111. 
A. Barringer, 44 N. Y. 
F. P. Bishop, 4 Tenn. C. 
C. T. Bowen, 4 R. I. 
Win. Bateman, 9 Mich C. 
Wm. Baird, 23 U. S. C. T. 



J. H. Bryan, 184 Pa. 
C. W. Baldwin, 2 N. J. 
H. E. Barker, 22 N. Y. C. 
C. H. Bigley, 82 N. Y. 
M. Burns, 13 N. Y. C. 

C. H. Cutter, 95 111. 
G. W. Creacy, 35 Mass. 
R. H. Chute, 59 Mass. 
H. M. Cross, 59 Mass. 
H. A. Chapin, 95 N. Y. 
W. Cahill, 76 N. Y. 

J. L. Castler, 76 N. Y. 
H. Chisman, 7 Ind. 
H. Cribben, 140 N. Y. 
G. M. Curtis, 140 N.Y. 
J. S. Calwell, 16 111. C. 
S. Crossley, 118 Pa. 
L. B. Carlise, 145 Pa. 
J. P. Codington, 8 Iowa C. 
W. H. Curtis, 19 Mass. 
J. W. Clark, 59 N. Y. 
J. H. Clark, 1 Mass. Art. 

D. L. Case, Jr., 102 N. Y. 
J. D. Cope, 116 Pa. 

J. W. Core, 6 W. Va. C. 
W. J. Colter, 15 Mass. 
J. Casey, 45 N. Y. 
W. H. Carter, 5 Pa. R. C. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



325 



J. N. Biller, 2 Pa. Art. 

F. S. Bowley, 30U.S.C. T. 

0. Boettger, 2 Md. 

W. A. Barnard, 20 Mich. 

Will. Blasse, 43 N. Y. 

C. 0. Brown, 31 Me. 

RK.Beeclian,23U.S.aT. 

A. N. Briscol, Cole's Md. C, 

H. M. Bearce, 32 Me. 

A. J. Braidy, 54 Pa. 

C. A. Bell, A. D. C. 

R. Burton, 9 N. Y. Art. 

H. E. Beebee, 22 N. Y. C. 

V. L. CotRn, 31 Me. 

L. A. Campbell, 152 N. Y. 

C. W. Carr, 4 Yt. 

J. Cuniihighain, 7 Pa. R. C. 

C. Coslett, 115 Pa. 

P. Cooper, 7 N. J. 

C. H. Crawford, 183 Pa. 

S. O. Cromack, 77 N. Y. 

H. Correll, 2 Yt. 

A. Morse, 1 Yt. Art. 

J. H. Morris, 4 Ky. 

W. H. Myers, 76 N. Y. - 

J. McGeehan, 14G N. Y. 

H. AY. Mitchell, 14 X. Y. 

J. C. McCain, 9 Minn. 



J. L. Chittendon, 5 Ind. C. 
W. H. Caniiey, 139 N. Y. 
W. F. Campbell, 51 Pa. 
J. F. Cameron, 5 Pa. C. 
M. Clegg, 5 Ind. C. 
H. R Chase, 1 Yt. H. Art. 
W. H. Conover, 22 N. Y. C. 
D. F. Califf, 2 W. S. S. S. 
D. B. Chubbnck, 19 Mass. 
M. Cunningham, 42 N. Y. 
A.M. Charters, 17 Iowa. 
W. A. Copeland, 10 Mich. 
T. demons, 13 111. 
•W. C. Cook, 9 Mich. C. 

C. P. Cramev, 21 X. Y. C. 
Geo. Corum, 2 Ky. C. 

M. B. Case, 23 U. S. C. T. 

D. J. Kline, 75 0. Y. M. I, 
C. G-. Conn, 1 M. S. S. 

M. Cunningham, 1 Yt. H. A. 

C. D. Copeland, 58 Pa. 

C. P. Cashell, 12 Pa. C. 

R. O'Connell, 55 Pa. 

J. Ogden, 1 Wis C. 

a C. Olden, 112 111. 

A.C. Pickenpaugh, 6 W. Ya. 

H. Picquet, 32 111. 

J. T. Parker, 13 Iowa. 



326 



LIST OF PEISONERS. 



T. McGuire, 7 111. 
J. W. Miller, 14 111. C. 
J. Murphy, 69 N. Y. 
J. Mallison, 94 N. Y. 
J. A. Mullegan, 4 Mass. C. 
W. F. Mathews, 1 Md. 
N. J. Menier, 93 Ind. 
H. Miller, 17 Mich. 
P.W.McMannus,27 Mass. 
E. McMahon, 72 Ohio. 
, Q. C. Morton, 4 Pa. C. 
E. Mather, 1 Vt. C. 
C. McDonald, 2 111. Art. 
G. W. Mayer, 37 Ind. 
J. McCormick, 21N. Y.C. 
A. J. Mashland, 2 Pa. Art. 
W. H. Mix, 19 U. S. C. T, 
T. J. Mimger, 37 Wis. 
A. McNure, 73 Pa. 
H. G. Mitchell, 32 Me. 
J. D. Marshall, 57 0. 
McLane, 9 Minn. 
C. NiedenhofFen, 9 Minn. 
A. Nelson, Q6 N. Y. 
J. B. Meedham, 4 Vt. 
C. L. Noggle, 2 U. S. 
J. Norwood, 76 N. Y. 
0. H. Nealy, 11 U. S. 



A. Phinney, 90 111. 

W. M. Provine, 84 111. 

T. Purcell, 16 Iowa. 

W. H. Powell, 2 111. L. Art. 

a. M. Parker, 45 111. 

J. S. Pnrveance, 130 Ind. 

D. H. PifFard, 14 N. Y. 

C. A. Price, 5 Mich. 

E. B. Parker, 1 Vt. Art. 
W. H. Patridge, 67 N. Y. 
H. H. Pierce, 7 Conn. 

G. W. Pitt, 85 N. Y. Vet. 
L. S. Peake, 85 N. Y. Vet. 
E. C. Pierson, 85 N. Y. Vet. 

D. Pentzell, 4 N. Y. C. 
J. G. Peetrey, 95 Ohio. 
M. P. Pierson, 100 N. Y. 
A. L. Preston, 8 Mich. C. 
G. Peters, 9 N. J. 

J. H. Pitt, 118 N. Y. 

James Post, 149 . 

W. D. Peck, 2 N. J. C. 
G. W. Paterson, 135 Ohio. 
J. C. Price, 75 Ohio. 
Z. Perrin, 72 Ohio. 
S. H. Piatt, 35 Mass. . 
L. G. Porter, 81 111. 
J. H. Palmer, 12 Ohio. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



327 



W.McM.Nettervill,12U.S. 
W. Neher, 7 Pa. R. V. C. 

A. Neal, 5^Ind. C. 

D. M. Niswander, 2 Pa. Art. 
H. J. Nyman, 19 Mich. 
W. R. Nulland, 5 Iiid. C. 
R. V. Outcolt, 135 0. 
J. O. Harre, 7 N. Y. Art. 

F. Osborne, 19 Mass. 

D. Olipbant, 35 N. J. 

E. 0. Shea, 13 Pa. C. 
J. R. Borsnels, 145 Pa. 

G. Rieiieckar, 5 Pa. C. 
0. Rahu, 184 Pa. 

G. A. Rowley, 2 U. S. 

B. E. Robhison, 95 0. 
W. E. Roach, 49 N. Y. 

H. W. Raymond, 8 N. Y. Art. 
J. E. Rose, 120 111. 
E. R. Roberts, 7 111. 
J. H. Reed, 120 111. 
J. M. Richards, 1 W. Va. 
H. Rothe, 15 N. Y. Art. 
E. K. Ramsey, 1 N. J. 
L. H. Riley, 7 Pa. R. V. C. 

C. H. Ross, 13 Ind. 
A. Ring, 12 Ohio. 

T. Rathbone, 153 Ohio. 



W. A. Pope, 18 Wis. 

D. B. Pyne, 3 Mo. 
Worthington Pierce, 17 Vt. 
W. B. PhilUps, 2 Pa. Art. 
C. 0. Poindexter, 31 Me. 
A. P. Pierson, 9 Mich. C. 
Chas. A. Price, 3 Mich. 

M.. Rees, 72 Ohio. 
W. B. Rose, 73 111. 
J. M. Ruger, 57 Pa. 
L. S. Richards, 1 Vt. Art. 
A. M. Smith, ^1 Tenn. C. 
J. C. Smith, 24 Ind. Bat. 
J. B. Smith, 5 W. Va. C. 
W. Sandon, 1 Wis. C. 
J. P. Smith, 49 Pa. 
J. G. Stevens, 52 Pa. 
C. T. Swope, 4 Ky. 
A. S. Stewart, 4 Ky. 

E. P. Strickland, 114 111. 
P. Smith, 4 Tenn. C. 

J. W. Stanton, 5 Ind. C. 
W. H. St. John, 5 Ind. C. 

F. E. Scripture, R. Q. M. 

A. B. Simmons, 5 Ind. C. 
H. P. Starr, 22 N. Y. C. 

B. Spring, 75 0. 
A. C. Stover, 95 0. 



328 LIST OF PRISONERS. 

C. L. Riigg, 6 Ind. C. C. P. Stone, 1 Vt. C. 

J. S. Rice, 13 lud. J. Stebbins, 77 N. Y. 

J. Reade, 57 Mass. C. S. Schwartz, 2 N. J. C. 

A. J. Rayiior, U) U. S.C. T. J. Sailor, 13 Pa. C. 

L. Rainer, 2 N. J. C. H. C. Smyser, 2 Md. 

J. S. Robeson, 7 Tenn. C. R. R. Stewart, 2 N. Y. C. 

W. L. Riley, 21 N. Y. C. M. W. Striblings, 61 Ohio. 

W. H. Randall, 1 Mich. S.S. J. Smith, 5 Pa. C. [Ohio C. 

W. B. Stnrgeon, 107 Pa. J. O. Stout, McLaughlin's S. 

M. H. Stover, 184 Pa. M. N. Shepstrong, 60 Ohio. 

A. A. Sweetland, 2 Pa. C. J. W: Stanton, 5 Ind. C. 

E. B. Smith, 1 Vt. Art. J. P. Sheehan, 31 Me. 

C. Schurr, 7 N. Y. Art. J. F. Shull, 28 U. S. C. T. 

W. H. Shafer, 5 Pa. C. S. B. Smith, 30 U. S. C. T. 

M. a. Sargeant, 1 Vt. Art. B. F. Stauber, 20 Pa. C. 

C. H. Stallman, 87 Pa. Art. H. Schulter, 43 N. Y. 

S. S. Smythe, 1 111. Art. L. I). Seely, 45 Pa. 

Geo. Scott, 10 Ind. Frank Stevens, 12 Pa. V.R.C. 

E. Swift, 74 111. A. F. Septon, 8 Iowa C. 
J. L. Skinner, 27 Mass. ' T. I). Scofield, 27 Mich. 

F. Stevens, 190 Pa. C. B. Sanders, 30 U. S. C. T. 
C. Stuart, 24 N. Y. P.A.Simondson,23U.S.C.T. 
M. Shanan, 140 N. Y. ^N. W. Shaefer, 24 Ind C. 
M. S. Smith, 16 Me. H. S. Tainter, 82 N. Y. 
E.Snowwhite,7Pa.V.R.C. D. Tanner, 118 111. 

W. H. S. Sweet, 146 N. Y. H. V. Tompkins, 59 N. Y. 

J. R. Sitler, 2 Pa. C. B. W. Trout, 106 Pa. 

A. L. Shamion, 3 Ind. C. J. S. Tompscm, 10 Vt. 



LIST OF PRISONERS. 



329 



L. E. Tyler, 1 Conn. C. 
A. Timm, 16 Iowa. 
O. Tocld, 18 Wis. 
A. W. Tiffany, 9 Minn. 
J. Taylor, 2 Pa. V. R. C. 
D. W. Tower, 17 Iowa. 
F. Tomson, 17 Iowa. 
A. F. Tipton, 8 Iowa C. 
David Turmer, 118 111. 

C. Tobel, 15 N. Y. Art. 
J. P. F. Toby, 31 Me. 
S. H. Tinker, 73 Ind. 

D. D. Yon Yalack, 12 U. S. 
D. Yan Doren, 72 Ohio. 

C. Yan Eensalaer, 148 N. Y. 
W. C. Yan Alin, 45 Pa. 

A. Yon Bulow, 3 N. J. C. 

O. W. West, 1 N. Y. Drag. 

J. B. Warner, 8 Mich. C. 

a Williams, 8 Mich. C. 

J. Winters, 72 Ohio. 

J. Warner, 33 N. J. 

J. F. Wheeler, 149 N. Y. 

F. Waidmann, 16 Iowa. 
J. Walker, 8 Tenn. 

T. A. Weesner, 14 & 15 111. 

G. J. West, 6 Conn. 

D. H. Winff, 14 N. Y. Art. 



C. W. Wilcox, 9 N. H. 
J. C. Watson, 126 Ohio. 
F. M. Woodruff, 76 N. Y. 
Geo. Weddle, 144 Ohio. 
C. W. Woodrow, 19 Iowa. 
H. H. Willis, 40 N. Y. 
J. Winship, 88 111. 
R. Wilson, 113 111. 
B. F. Whitten, 9 Me. 
J. W. Warren, 1 Wis. C. 
W. WiUiams, 8 Mich. C. 
T. H. Ward, 59 U. S. C. T. 
J. Wheaton, 59 U. S. C. T. 

B. W. Whittemore, 5 N. Y. C. 
H. A. Wentworth, 14N. Y. A. 
W. H. Walker, 4 Ohio. 

E. S. Wilson, 1 Mass. C. 
D.H.Warren, A. Surg. 8 I.e. 
R. P. Wilson, 5 U. S. C. 
E. C. Taw, 67 N. Y. 
J. H. York, 63 Ind. 
W. J. Young, 111 III 
A. Young, 4 Pa. C. 
T. P. Young, 4 Ky. 
Aaron Zeigler, 7 Pa. Y. R. C. 
A. Zimm, 15 Iowa. 

C. Zobel, 15 N. Y. A. 
G.H.Hastings,24 N.Y.In.Bt. 



330 LIST OF PRISONERS. 

NAVAL OFFICERS. 

AV.E. H. Fintress, A. V. Lt. Dan'l Ward, Act. M. M. 
Edw. L. Haines, Act. M. B. Johnson, 2 Act. Eng. 
J. F. D. Eobinson, Act. M. Jas. McCaulley, 2 Act. Eng. 
E. H. Sears, Ast. P. M. Jno. B. Dick, 2 Act. Eng. 
Robt. M. Clark, Act. Ensg. A. D. Renshaw, 3 Act. Eng. 
Simon Strunk, Act. Ensg. Jno. Mee, 3 Act. Eng. 
E. W. Dayton, Act. Ensg. Ch. McCormick, 3 Act. Eng. 
Thos. Brown, Act. M. M. Sam. B. Ellis, 3 Act. Eng. 
Wm. H. Fogg, Act. M. M. Henry K. Stever, 3 Act. Eng 
Clias. A. Stewart, Act. M.M. E. J. Robinson, Pilot. 




INDEX. 331 



INDEX. 

CHAPTER T— Page 11. 
Description of Plj-mouth, N. C. 

CHAPTER II— Page 13. 
The Battle of Plymoiith — The Cavalry Pickets Driven In — Hoke Appears in 
our Front with Eight Thousand Men — A Magnificent Artillery Duel — 
Four Days Hard Fighting — Sinking of the Southfield and Defeat of the 
Fleet by the Ram Albemarle. 

CHAPTER III— Page 19. 
A Description of the Battle Between the Albemarle and our Gun Boats — 
Death of Captain Flusser — Captain French Cuts Loose from the Sinking 
Southfield and Runs Away. 

CHAPTER lY— Page 22. 
Our Retreat Cut Ofi' — A Perilous Reconnoissance by the Cavalry — Cavalry 
Sent to Capture a Boat's Crew — Fleeiug North Caroliniaus — Walking 
Back into Prison Rather than to Skulk a Fight — Firing the Two Hundred 
Pounder at the Ram — Squelching a Rebel Sharpshooter — A Furious At- 
tack and Fearful Slaughter — A Prisoner of War. 

CHAPTER V— Page 32. 
Marched Off Over the Battlefield a Prisoner — Among the Enemy's Dead and 
Wouuded — Evidences of our Deadly Work— The Rebs Go Gunning for 
" Niggers " — The Johunies Appropriating my Wardrobe — Massacre of 
the Colored Troops — They are Drawn up into Line and Shot Down Like 
Dogs by order of General Hoke — Caring for our Wounded and Burying 
our Dead. 



332 INDEX. 

CHAPTER YI— Page 36. 
On the March — An Eighteen Mile March — Treated to a Drink of Our 0"^n 
Commissary at the End of the First Days March — Uniform Good Treat- 
ment hy our Captors — An Attempt to Escape Frustrated — March to "Wil- 
liamstown — The Band at Foster's Mills Treats us to "Dixey'" — Kind 
hearted Mrs. Piffin Gives us All the Provisions She Had Cooked for Din- 
ner — Hopes Some One Will do as Much for her Son (Who is in the Con- 
federate Army) — A Eide in Filthy Cattle Cars Through Charleston, 
Savannah and Macon — Arrival at Andersonville. 

CHAPTER VII— Page 41. 
Andersonville — Separated from the Enlisted Men — An Interview with the 
Inhuman Monster ' • Wirz " — Placed in a Church — Divine Service Sunday 
Morning — Sent Back to Macon — Drawing Rations — A Blindfolded Man 
Divides Them — Ladies Visit Our Camp and Show Their Sympathy — 
Union Girls Forever — Boquets and jSTotes Sent Us — A Drunken Riot — 
Reckless Shooting of the Guards — Prices of Provisions in Macon. 

CHAPTER VIII— Page 51. 
Moving Into The Stockade— Skirmishing — Mr. Cashraeyer's Sutler "Wagon — 
. Captain Irsh Bucked and Gagged By Order of Tabb — Captain Tabb Re- 
lieved — How We Passed the Time— The Meetings — Gambling Houses — 
Social and Singing Circles. 

CHAPTER IX— Page 72. 
Fresh Fish — Arrival of Col. Miller— Death of Lieut. Wood, 82nd Indiana — 
More Fresh Fish. 

CHAPTER X— Page 80. 
Manner of Tunneling. 

CHAPTER XI— Page 98. 

Receiving and Sending off the Mail — Attempts to Smuggle Through Forbid- 
den Matter— Samples of Letters Sent Home — Boxes of Letters Received — 
My Feelings at Xot Receiving Any. 

CHAPTER XII— Page 105. 

The First Division Leaves Camp Oglethorp — Plans for Escape — Their Desti- 
nation, Charleston — Thirty Union Officers and Four of the " Reb " Guard 
Are Missing on Then- Arrival at Charleston — The Story of the Lieutenant 



INDEX. 333 

In Charge of the Train as Told to Major Lyman — Departure of the Sec- 
ond Division — Stopped at Savannah, Thus Foiling Our Plans for Escape. 

CHAPTER XIII— Page 130. 

Camp Sorghum — A Sleepless and Miserable Xight — Building a Brush Tent — 
The Escape— I Turn Over Mj^ Tent and Household Effects to Colonel 
Miller and Adjutant Lyman — Crawling Across the Guard Line — Our Es- 
cape Discovered and we Fired Upon — Captains Geere and Eastmoud Re- 
captured — Tramp, Tramp, Tramp. 

CHAPTER XIV— Page 148. 

Assailed by a Dog— Scaring a Xegro — Free Micthell — He Dare Xot Let Me 
Into His Yard on Account of a Yankee Schoolmaster who Kept Blood 
Hounds — Flanking the Hounds — Meeting Captain Alban — Losing My 
Former Companions I Start Out TTith Him. 

CHAPTER XY— Page 154. 

How to Roast a Chicken — A Good Square Meal Once More — On the Tramp 
Again — We Me«t a Darky who Furnishes Us Supper and Chickens From 
His Masters Hen Coop — Surprised by Two White Men While Eating 
Breakfast — Passing Through Walhalla — Avoiding Some Cavalry. 

CHAPTER XYI— Page W2. 

Back into Walhalla — We Run into a Rebel Picket in the Dark and are Taken 
in — A Little Judicious Lieing Secures Our Release — Overtaking Some 
Wagons Going from Market — Chatting with a Company of Rebel Cavalry- 

CHAPTER XYII— Page 173. 
At Major Carters — My Swollen Limbs Give Me an Excuse to Cut Off' the Con- 
versation — Rev. Mr. Burch Gives Us a Hearty Welcome and a Good 
Breakfast — Passing a Confederate Soldier — Recaptured — Eccentric but 
Loyal Tom Hubbard — Taken Back to Fort Emory. 

CHAPTER XYIII— Page 180. 
In Prison Again. 

CHAPTER XIX— Page 187. 
A Hospitable Host — Fraukliu Jail — Charitable Women — A Thoughtful, Moth- 
erly Gift — A Generous Guard — Ashville Jail — Attempt to Break Out. 



334 INDEX. 

CHAPTER XX— Page 195. 
Another Attempt at Escape Discovered — A Bold Plot — Lack of Sand in the 
Reb Deserters— A Brave Xegro— The Flogging. 

CHAPTER XXI— Page 201. 
Placed in an Iron Cage — Breaking Out and Attempting to Dig Through a 
Brick "Wall — An Unexpected Surprise. 

CHAPTER XXII— Page 209. 
Danville Prison — A Cold Winter — Double-Quicking Around the Room to Keep 
"Warm — Excitement Caused by the Arrival of Fresh Troops — They Stack 
Arms in Front of Our Prison — Plans for Escape; 

CHAPTER XXIII— Page 216. 
Prison Rules — Starving in the Midst of Plenty — Organizing for a Break — 
Trading "With the Guard — Business in Prison. 

CHAPTER XXIY— Page 222. 
Organization for a Break Completed — The Attempted Break— The Guard Dis- 
armed — Too Late, Go Back— Colonel Raulston Shot. 

CHAPTER XXY— Page 232. 
Borrowing Seven Hundred Dollars of a Reb. 

CHAPTER XXYI— Page 243. 

CHAPTER XXVII -Page 249. 

CHAPTER XXVIII— Page 2.5S. 
More about Charleston- Exchange on the Brain — More about Macon- 
Charleston Jail Yard More Fully Described— The Old Privy— The Gallows 
or Gi):»bet— Terrible Suffering for "Want of Food and Shelter— A Fire and 
How Gillmore Helped it«Along — Death of Lieutenant Mosher, 12th N. T. 
Cavalry. 

CHAPTER XXIX— Page 263. 

Exchange on the Brain. 

CHAPTER XXX— Page 273. 
Scouting in North Carolina— Sergeant C in a "Well— The Accident Pre- 



INDEX. 



335 



vents a Fight with our own Troops — A Fight with North Carolina Troops 
— Mrs. Modlin Turns a Back Somersault — Our Irish Lieutenant. 

APPENDIX— Page 287. 

LIST OF OPFICEKS CONFIXED IN MACON, GA— Page 295. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE. 

The Cavalry Sent to Capture a Boat's Crew 25 

Skirmishing at Macon, Ga 53 

Capt. Irsh Bucked and Gagged 59 

Capt. Alban on Police Duty 65 

Fresh Fish 73 

Tunnelling at Macon, Ga 81 

Mr. Cashmeyer's Sutler Wagon 89 

"Washing Clothes at Savannah, Ga Ill 

Escaped Prisoners Searching for the Road at Night 137 

Pencil Sketch of Author 241 



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